10 Most Controversial Randy Orton WWE Backstage Stories

2. He Was Nearly The Marine, Dammit!

WWE.com

Before Randy followed his family’s footsteps and became a professional wrestler, he was briefly in the United States Marine Corps but was dishonorably discharged after going AWOL on two separate occasions and disobeying a superior officer. As a result, he was court-martialed and served 38 days in a military prison.

Over a decade later, and WWE tapped Randy Orton to be the next star of The Marine series of films, after John Cena and Ted DiBiase Jr. His inclusion in the franchise was immediately controversial, and his former unit member Corporal Mike Vinn was outspoken about Orton’s casting.

“I am disgusted that his face and the word Marine are being used next to each other — real or fake — because of the fact that he quit us, the country, and the Marine Corps. [Randy] in the role of a Marine is a disgrace to those that have worn and are wearing that uniform.”

WWE quickly pulled Orton from the role replacing him with The Miz in The Marine 3: Homefront. They also issued a statement saying “WWE demonstrated poor judgment in signing Randy Orton for the 3rd instalment of the film. Despite Randy’s popularity, the fact that he was dishonorably discharged from the USMC made it inappropriate for him to be cast in this film.” It was smart of them to act so quickly, but remarkable that no-one foresaw this being a problem in the first place.