All articles tagged with #randy orton
Damian Priest criticized WWE's Pat McAfee storyline with Randy Orton on SmackDown, calling it 'sucks' and saying many in the locker room weren’t happy. He argued the PG show could still elevate talent without McAfee’s profanity-laden appearances and questioned the benefit to other wrestlers, noting the storyline felt unnecessary to him.
Stephanie McMahon returned to WWE Raw at Madison Square Garden, interrupting Cody Rhodes to tell him he can’t beat this version of Randy Orton. Rhodes responded that he isn’t his father either, earning a big pop. Stephanie says she wants to bring out the best in him and even nudges him, prompting a heartfelt “thank you.” The segment leaves open whether Stephanie is the person Orton has been speaking to.
SmackDown (Mar 27, 2026) pushed WrestleMania-forward with Cody Rhodes returning to confront Randy Orton after Orton defeats Matt Cardona, sparking a pull‑apart that Jelly Roll interrupts. Sami Zayn seeks a Mania spot, backing Trick Williams, who beats Carmelo Hayes to set up a United States Championship match against Nick Aldis at WrestleMania. The show also featured Lash Legend with The Bella Twins defeating Flair & Bliss, ongoing Rhea Ripley/Jade Cargill/Michin/B-Fab angles, Kit Wilson vs. Jelly Roll, and a teased unsanctioned bout between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre; Giulia defeated Tiffany Stratton with help from Kiana James. Grade B.
Orton opened SmackDown with a fiery promo and a dominant win over Matt Cardona, setting the stage for his WrestleMania clash while Cody Rhodes watched from ringside. Sami Zayn captured the United States Championship from Carmelo Hayes after Trick Williams’ miscue, hinting at a Zayn–Williams program at Mania. Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu were booked in an Unsanctioned WrestleMania match, and Jade Cargill’s trio continued to target Rhea Ripley to keep their feud alive. Jelly Roll defeated Kit Wilson in a crowd-pleasing segment, and a post‑match confrontation saw Cody Rhodes confront Orton as the show closed with Orton’s ominous grin.
WWE SmackDown from Pittsburgh set the WrestleMania pace with Randy Orton looming backstage and threatening more chaos, Cody Rhodes set to return to address him, and a major injury tease for Drew McIntyre. The night also featured Jelly Roll’s surprise win over Kit Wilson, interruptions and new alliances involving Jade Cargill, plus injury updates for Nikki Bella and hints of title drama including a possible United States Title defense, all shaping the Road to WrestleMania.
Cody Rhodes returns to WWE on SmackDown to confront Randy Orton after Orton defeated Matt Cardona; Rhodes attacks Orton as Jelly Roll arrives and is admonished, only for Orton to deliver an RKO to Jelly Roll, leaving Rhodes to stand tall as the show tees up a WrestleMania storyline with a mysterious caller in the background.
Spoilers indicate Friday's WWE SmackDown will end with Randy Orton vs. Matt Cardona, after weeks of tension and a possible opening-slot appearance by Orton, as WrestleMania momentum builds; the show also teases Cody Rhodes's return and other big segments.
WWE's March 27 SmackDown at the PPG Paints Arena focuses on fallout from last week's chaos with Randy Orton teasing his next target and Cody Rhodes returning, plus Nick Aldis addressing the Jacob Fatu–Drew McIntyre brawl. The in-ring lineup includes Giulia vs. Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's United States Championship, Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. The Bella Twins, and Kit Wilson vs. Jelly Roll, signaling major WrestleMania- season implications and potential Rhodes–Orton interaction.
Randy Orton, previously a babyface, underwent a major character change on WWE SmackDown by attacking Cody Rhodes during a contract signing, signaling a return to his 2009-era heel persona and setting up their Undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 42, with Orton drawing unexpected crowd support as Rhodes was left bloodied.
A report claims Cody Rhodes personally pushed for a WrestleMania 42 clash with Randy Orton, believing the marquee matchup would draw big.is justified by Rhodes knowing weeks in advance that Orton would be his opponent.
Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in the main event to win back the WWE Championship on SmackDown and earned a WrestleMania title rematch in Las Vegas; the show also advanced Sami Zayn’s selfish-ambition storyline, teased a Ripley–Cargill showdown, and highlighted Carmelo Hayes’ US title defense along with a new Tag Team Turmoil lineup, finishing with a solid B grade.
Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre to become the Undisputed WWE Champion, his third reign, setting up a WrestleMania 42 title clash with Randy Orton; the show also featured Carmelo Hayes defending the US Title against El Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr., a Jade Cargill–Rhea Ripley face-off that teased their WrestleMania showdown, Flair & Bliss defeating Giulia & Kiana James to boost their contender status, and Damian Priest & R-Truth winning Tag Team Turmoil to earn a title shot, while backstage momentum and promos continued WrestleMania storyline threads.
Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre on SmackDown to win the WWE Championship for the third time, in a chaotic finish involving a second referee and interference by Jacob Fatu, then pinned McIntyre with a crossroads to secure the title and set up a WrestleMania 42 match against Randy Orton. A contract signing for WrestleMania 42 was also announced for next week’s SmackDown.
SmackDown on March 6 reveals the Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contender’s Turmoil lineup—Fraxiom, Los Garza, The Wyatt Sicks, Motor City Machine Guns, and Damian Priest with R-Truth—while Randy Orton opens the show, Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed Championship headlines, Carmelo Hayes’s US Open Challenge, and ongoing Women’s division developments ahead of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
Rumors suggest WrestleMania 42's WWE Championship match will be Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, a change from the previously discussed Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes or a multi-person bout. The plan, backed by Cody's camp and PWInsider, reflects ongoing creative flux during the build to WrestleMania.