By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WWE star Randy Orton talked in-depth about his career, injuries, past attitude problems, other top stars on the roster, and other WWE topics in a recent interview with radio host Sam Roberts promoting the "12 Rounds 2" movie.

-- Regarding multiple suspensions during his career - the most recent being in May 2012 - Orton said he thought he was going to lose his job "every time."

"I think I was just a little impulsive with my decision-making and I wouldn't really think how it would affect me or the people around me," Orton said. "There were probably half-a-dozen times where I thought, 'This is it.' Like Triple H would always tell me, 'You're your own worst enemy.' Because everyone there was in my corner."

-- Orton noted he is still battling a shoulder injury that has lingered throughout his career. "When I get to the arena, I have to start pre-habbing and artificially stabilizing my shoulder by pumping up my rotator cuff muscle so it won't dislocate," Orton said. "In our line of work, we are hurt. We are hurting... But, it's just a necessary thing that I have to do to continue doing what I love and making good money."

-- Orton admitted to not being ready for the World Title when he was given the belt at 24-years-old. "At that point in my career, I'm not very confident in my abilities at this point. Nothing like I am," Orton said. "I was like, 'Are you shi------ me? You're going to give me the World Hvt. Title?' Holy crap. I s--- my pants. I had the thing for a month before they took it off me, yeah, I wasn't ready. But, I'm still the youngest World Hvt. champion (laughs)."

Part of Orton not being ready was lacking maturity and continuing to make mistakes behind-the-scenes. "I can't tell you how many times I had to be pulled aside to have a one-on-one with Vince (McMahon). Sometimes Vince and Stephanie (McMahon) or sometimes Vince, Stephanie, and John Laurinaitis. I just think I had some entitlement issues and I thought I deserved this... They gave me a couple of chances, to say the least," Orton said.

Orton said what's interesting is seeing someone like Trish Stratus for the first time in a while at the Hall of Fame. "She mentioned to me like, 'You've come into a mature adult. This is amazing,'" Orton said. Orton noted it goes back to having a child with his wife.

But, he thinks it was a mistake to put his family out there publicly on his recent WWE DVD. "I wish I had never tweeted a picture of my daughter," Orton added.

-- Regarding his place on the card, Orton said he feels he's established a baseline-level where he'll never go below a certain point in the eyes of the fans, but he's "cool" with being just below the main event. What would be even better is turning heel, though.

"I wouldn't say happy, but I'm enjoying it the best I can," Orton said about playing a face. "I'd much rather be a bad guy. I think everyone knows that." He added, "I try not to be that type of (Cena) babyface. I just try to be my own good guy and keep a couple of those characteristics I had as a heel. I know eventually I'll turn back."

-- Regarding the Creative process, Orton noted he has input and he trusts the writers to take care of his character, but he's not close to the writers like Chris Jericho or wanting to do his own thing like C.M. Punk.

"Punk likes to be upset about s---. That's his thing to always have a chip on his shoulder," Orton said. "It's funny because I always felt like I was the original guy who had a chip on his shoulder, but my demons are deeper than his. The guy's never had a drink of alcohol. How f'ed up can the guy be? (laughs). But, I think he's done a great job on the stick and in the ring."

-- Despite being confident in his in-ring abilities, Orton said he's still affected by little criticisms from people behind-the-scenes following a match. "It's as bad as you can have a great match and you come back to Gorilla position, and someone says, 'You need to keep your hands up more. Reality-based.' And I'm thinking, 'Reality-based? So, he's shooting me into a set of ropes and I'm bouncing back at him and you're talking to me about reality-based?'" Orton said.

Orton added, "This is entertainment. Let's entertain. This is isn't UFC. This is WWE." Orton continued, "I've watched some UFC, and those guys are hard, but some of those matches can be boring. We have the liberty to tell the best possibly stories... It's not 'I might be entertained tonight.' You know you're going to get a good show."

[ Video: Orton's full 27-minute interview with Sam Roberts can be viewed HERE on YouTube - http://youtu.be/uVJq21gYlho ]



[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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