The warning signs were there for everyone to see a few years back, when Randy Orton was profiled on WWE's now-defunct magazine show, Confidential. Randy was dishonorably discharged from the Marines for attitude issues, if my memory serves me correctly. For all the talent housed in the body of a 3rd generation wrestler such as Orton, it's prone to being nullified by ill-timed bouts of immature, reckless behavior.

The latest incident happened last week during the European tour. Orton reportedly trashed a hotel room in Germany, and was sent home. Despite being advertised to wrestle against former partner Edge on Raw, Orton wasn't in London at all, but presumably back home in St. Louis, waiting to rejoin the troupe in Atlanta for Backlash on Sunday, if he makes it that far, and the latest word is he'll still be in line to challenge for the WWE title. However, it may be his last chance.

Around this same time last year, Orton was suspended for disciplinary reasons after losing to Rey Mysterio at Wrestlemania 22. And, then, there's also the infamous incident where he supposedly took a dump in one of the women's travel bags. Orton is fortunate that he's actually got some championships on his resume, contrary to his Hall of Fame father, Cowboy Bob Orton, who never won a title during his run with the then-WWF in the 80's. It took Randy a while to perfect his finisher, the RKO, which is merely just one of about 150 different variations of the Diamond Cutter that Diamond Dallas Page perfected in WCW many moons ago. The reason it took Orton so long to master the move wasn't because he was telegraphing it. It was because Orton kept trying to hit the move one-handed, and looked sloppy every time. The RKO is really not that much different than the Twist of Fate employed by the Hardys and Lita.

I'm getting off-point here. It's clear now that Randy Orton hasn't learned thing one about behavioral control from his days in the Marines. His problem is that he's afflicted with the "Disease of Me", like so many filthy rich pro athletes in basketball & football who put themselves on higher pedestals before they're really ready to carry the ball, if you will. For all of his talent, Orton seems to think that he is, to borrow a line from Travis Tritt, ten feet tall & bulletproof, that he's above being disciplined for a juvenile stunt more associated with rock stars. We don't know what went on in the hotel that prompted Orton's tirade, and we may never know. If Orton doesn't come up aces on Sunday and at least comes close to winning the WWE title in the fatal 4-way, odds are that it may be his last chance. And before you even ask, I don't see him going anywhere else if he is released. He wouldn't last beyond a week in Japan. TNA wouldn't take a chance because there's already so many ex-WWE stars on their roster who know Randy enough to warn Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett about Orton's attitude problems.

Suspending Orton didn't work the last time, it seems. Anger management courses were prescribed, if memory serves, and may be needed again, but what if the problem is deeper than that? Is this a wellness issue? Is this more of a psych issue? While WWE management is entertaining the daunting prospect of firing Orton, they're better off not doing so, not because of the competition having any interest (and as I said before, I doubt that very seriously), but it will be in the best interest of the company and Orton to get his head straightened out once and for all. If they choose to suspend him this time, it may need to be stipulated that he has to be closely monitored. In time, the facts will be brought out into the open, but until then, we can only speculate and offer ideas & opinions. Randy Orton is supposed to be part of the WWE's future. He doesn't need to be throwing that opportunity away.