Randy Orton Denies Internet Report

Randy Orton has taken to his official Twitter account to deny a recent report that claimed the WWE Superstar would be taking time off in 2013.

PWInsider (via WrestlingInc.com) reported last week that there was talk within the company that Orton would be working a lighter schedule to deal with a "family issue he will need to put time and attention into."

Responding to all the rumors, Orton tweeted:

"

Everyone's asking me if I'm taking time off. I guess some online site said I was. Not true. Move to the next rumor on the list people.

— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton)"

Assuming Orton is telling the truth here and isn't going anywhere, this can be considered very good news.

After an extremely tumultuous 2012, which saw the third-generation star deal with various injuries, as well as get suspended for 60 days after violating the company's wellness policy, Orton must be ready to return to prominence, and the World title scene, in 2013.

The longtime babyface seems to be heading for a heel turn (why else has he been losing clean so much on television in recent times?), which will no doubt shake up a stale SmackDown product, as well as revamp Orton's fading career.

After going as far as he can as a good guy, it is time for a drastic character change for the 32-year-old.

12 Rounds: Reloaded, his WWE Studios action film, is also due out in the summer (via director Roel Reine's Twitter) and will almost certainly involve a huge amount of PR work from Orton to promote it.

This can probably be considered good news for the company too. WWE is running short of established, full-time main-event wrestlers and will likely need all hands on deck in 2013.

Sure, guys like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, The Undertaker and Triple H are useful in the lucrative WrestleMania season. But they likely aren't sticking around beyond that. This makes someone like Orton more valuable than ever.