Things have been going well for WWE superstar Randy Orton, who has overcome personal issues, climbed back up the WWE ladder and become the holder of a Money in the Bank suitcase, which gives him a title shot anytime he wants.
Well, things took a step back for Orton in South Africa Tuesday night, when the "Apex Predator" was preyed upon. As Orton played to the crowd, standing on the turnbuckle with arms raised as his entrance music blared, a fan quietly entered the ring behind him.
The fan was no admirer, though. This WWE patron ran up behind "The Viper" and slugged him in his nether regions, knocking the grappler from his perch as officials dragged him away and Orton restrained himself from exacting revenge.
WWE released a statement to quiet talk that the unruly fan's presence was planned by the company:
"WWE.com has learned that Randy Orton was violently attacked by an audience member during a SmackDown World Tour Live Event in Cape Town, South Africa, this evening. Footage of the attack was captured by a WWE fan and posted to YouTube, and shows the perpetrator striking Orton from behind. The matter is currently under investigation by the local authorities, and the South African fan is being held in jail pending criminal charges. The extent of Orton's injuries are unknown at this time."
Orton appeared okay after the attack, and eager to continue on with the show. Shocked fans can exhale and get back to wondering when he will cash in his title shot. Speculation abounds that WWE's pay-per-view Summerslam, arguably their biggest show besides WrestleMania, will be when Orton takes aim at the belt.
Current champion John Cena is facing off against rising star Daniel Bryan in the main event, and Orton has already said he will strike at the most opportune moment. It would suit an "Apex Predator" very well to leap after the winner of that bout after they just went through a main-event war.
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