WWE News: Randy Orton Gets Head Stapled Shut After Smackdown Match (with Video)

This past Tuesday at the Smackdown tapings in Greenville, South Carolina, Randy Orton fought Cody Rhodes in a street fight that will air this Friday on SyFy.

The Bi-Lo Center witnessed a savage bout that resulted in Randy Orton getting three staples on the back of his head to close a gruesome wound.

TMZ was backstage to chronicle the medical proceedings, using a hand-held video camera to tape Orton calmly receiving the painful treatment while lying on his stomach in the trainer's room.

Click on this link from 411mania.com—via TMZ—to view the grisly footage at your own risk.

Arguably, the WWE may be testing the waters for a more mature-oriented product if the last few encounters between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are any indication.

A few weeks ago on Smackdown, "The Dashing One" was bloodied so badly by "The Viper" that the WWE post-production team had no choice but to edit a majority of it.

Just yesterday, their street fight was so hard-hitting and wild—according to fans in attendance—that Orton ended up with gaping perforations on the back of his scalp to show for it.

Mainstream observers may lament the WWE's scripted nature, but it's tangible evidence like this that corroborates the very real consequences that professional wrestling entails.

Notwithstanding the moral implications—which is an entirely different discussion—these wrestlers literally sacrifice their bodies and lives to "create" memorable matches and moments for fans.

For that reason alone, "sports-entertainers" should be regarded as the most committed stars in show business.

Cody Rhodes and now Randy Orton are proof positive of that.