Why Is WWE Keeping Orton On TV?

With Randy Orton's recent (among the long line of) injuries, it is quite bizarre why the WWE keeps him on television instead of having him sit up for a few months to either heal up or go for surgery. Ever since Orton kept the seriousness of his injury from WWE officials prior to last months Over The Limit PPV, WWE has kept him on television, giving him progressively more to do each week as we approach tonight's Fatal Four Way show.

I had the good fortune of attending last night's major house show at New York's Madison Square Garden. I didn't expect Orton to be in competition since he has missed every house show since Over the Limit. However, he did appear in a match with Edge. It was a very short match, on par with their PPV match in terms of time. And you could see that Orton was very careful during the contest. Think back to RAW this past Monday when Orton set up for the RKO and "gently" pounded the mat. That is basically what he did throughout the contest. He got the victory with an RKO. Now, I won't call out the WWE on that decision because house shows usually see the faces go over more often than the heels in order to make the crowd happy.

All that being said, with WWE's newest approach to making younger stars relevant, one would think they would keep Orton off television until he is absolutely healed. Even then of course, anything can happen because the guy has serious shoulder issues that will result in him being forever injury prone. Wherever Mr. Kennedy is at the moment, he enjoyed that last comment, I am sure. 

Obviously, Orton is the last person that will win the WWE Championship at tonight's PPV and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he either works least in the match or is even taken out prior to the contest and replaced. WWE's goal right now is on people like Evan Bourne, the NXT rookies, and other younger superstars who will be the future of the company. 

It might just be time for The Viper to slither back to St. Louis for a few months and perhaps rejoin the WWE Universe in the fall or winter.