WWE Smackdown recap: Randy Orton's injury opens Chamber doors for Santino Marella

Injury.

Those six letters can be devastating to the career of any professional wrestling superstar, especially during the build-up to the biggest show of the year.

In recent months, several of WWE's top stars have been sidelined with injuries of varying degrees. Christian, Rey Mysterio, Alberto del Rio, Sin Cara and Layla have all missed weeks -- if not months -- of action. Others like Mark Henry, Big Show and Ted DiBiase, who has been wrestling in a cast and brace, have been working despite injuries.

On Monday night's Raw, Randy Orton was added to that list, as he suffered a concussion during his match with Big Show. WWE made the news official on their website, but people immediately began debating whether the injury was legitimate or part of an angle.

With the push Orton had been receiving in recent weeks, leading to Sunday's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view and WrestleMania, the mere thought that WWE would write Orton off television with an injury angle is absurd. Orton was poised to be a top challenger for, if not the winner of, the World Heavyweight Championship match.

WWE announced earlier in the week that Orton would be removed from that bout. The news was disheartening, given the anticipation and uncertainty created by the build to the pay-per-view. Despite not being an ardent supporter of "The Viper," I was personally excited to see the issues between Orton and Daniel Bryan hit a fever pitch.

The situation became even more baffling Wednesday morning, when WWE revealed the outcome of tonight's Smackdown main event on its website. Not only was the winner announced, but the finish of the match was revealed, too.

Internet fans, again quick to jump to their keyboards and conspiracy theories, began questioning whether the article had been mistakenly published earlier than intended, but the article has remained active for several days before the show.

WWE officials obviously found themselves facing a predicament as one of the matches serving as a major selling point for Sunday's show had to be changed at the eleventh hour. Many fans had likely made the decision to attend the event or order the pay-per-view based on storylines involving Orton.

The intrigue of Orton's absence, however, could have been used to build more momentum and anticipation for tonight's Smackdown. Yes, dozens of websites would still have reported spoilers, easily accessible for the fans who sought them out, but WWE could have simply said Orton's replacement would be determined on the show.

Revealing spoilers for the go-home show to a pay-per-view seems like a questionable decision at best. If ratings for the final segment of the show dropped off, at least WWE will have no one to blame but itself.