Sometimes the past can come back to bite you right on the butt.
Cageside reported last week Randy Orton had been cast in the lead role of WWE Studios' longest running and most well-known movie franchise. The third installment of the series entitled "The Marine: Homefront" was to see Orton continue the hallowed tradition John Cena and Ted DiBiase, Jr. set for him.
Filming was set to begin this summer which would have plucked "The Apex Predator" from a WWE ring for approximately 4 to 6 weeks while he pretended to be a Marine.
Only problem is Orton actually WAS a Marine... but not a very good one.
TMZ is reporting the third generation Superstar has been yanked from the movie due to his bad conduct discharge from the Marines in the late 1990s. Orton twice was absent without leave (AWOL) and disobeyed an order from a commanding officer.
After being court-martialed and going through a trial, Orton was dropped into a military prison for over a month. He began his professional wrestling career almost immediately after. I suppose America's national defense's loss is professional wrestling fans' gain?
Here's what a WWE representative had to say about the situation:
"WWE demonstrated poor judgment in signing Randy Orton for the 3rd installment of the film. Despite Randy's popularity, the fact that he was dishonorably discharged from the USMC made it inappropriate for him to be cast in this film."
Yikes.
This makes absolute sense. WWE has always had a great relationship with the men and women of the Armed Forces and something like had the potential to have been an absolute public relations nightmare. Orton's discharge isn't exactly news, either. It pretty well known so I couldn't imagine why they even pulled the trigger on the casting to begin with, to be honest. If only WWE Studios had a franchise about tan, hairless, oily guys with terrible tattoos, Orton would be a shoe-in.
TMZ also got a quote from one of Orton's old unit members, Cpl. Mike Vinn, was wasn't all too pleased "The Viper" landed the role to begin with:
"I am disgusted that his face and the word Marine are being used next to each other -- real or fake -- because of the fact that he quit us, the country, and the Marine Corps. [Randy] in the role of a Marine is a disgrace to those that have worn and are wearing that uniform."
Tell us how you really feel!
Well, now that Orton is free this summer, who is WWE going the replace him with as the latest 'Marine'?