WWE has confirmed three matches and segments for the episode of Friday Night SmackDown on October 16th. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton will face off after their recent tensions, while Paige will take on Nikki Bella and Damian Priest will have to square off against R-Truth in a match between former partners.
The announcements were made during the latest edition of SmackDown and will continue several of the rivalries that are unfolding on the blue brand. The showdown between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton is set to be one of the main attractions of the show, especially after Orton interfered in Rhodes' Money in the Bank qualifying match.
The rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton continues to intensify after the events of recent weeks. During the previous episode of SmackDown, Orton interfered in Rhodes' Money in the Bank qualifying match, harming his former partner and escalating their feud.
The situation continued this week when Orton tried to enter the venue where the show was taking place. However, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis confronted him about his recent behavior. Instead of prolonging the discussion, Orton decided to leave the premises and return home, insisting that Cody Rhodes was the real cause of their issues.
Orton's absence didn't stop Rhodes from coming out to the ring to address his former mentor. During his speech, the wrestler revisited their history together and recalled some of their most significant encounters.
The relationship between the two wrestlers dates back to their early years in WWE when they were part of The Legacy alongside Ted DiBiase Jr. That period allowed a young Cody Rhodes to work alongside Randy Orton, who was already established as one of the company's top stars.
However, their relationship has evolved into a personal rivalry, especially after their showdown at WrestleMania 42.
On that occasion, Rhodes defeated Orton to retain the WWE Championship, a result that didn't resolve the differences between the two wrestlers. During his appearance on SmackDown, Cody recalled that match and made it clear that his patience with Orton has run out.
Rhodes demanded that Nick Aldis get Randy Orton to face him, hinting that he is willing to take the rivalry to a much more personal level.
The wrestler stated that it's no longer about deciding what is morally right but about determining what he is willing to do to Orton, whom he described as a "waste of talent."
For now, the company has only confirmed a face-to-face segment, without announcing a match between Rhodes and Orton for that date.
The women's division will also have a spotlight on the upcoming episode of SmackDown with a new match between Paige and Nikki Bella.
Both wrestlers have been involved in a rivalry that has been developing over the past few weeks and has seen them face off before.
Nikki Bella scored a victory over Paige several weeks ago, but the result didn't end their differences.
Since then, Bella has continued to provoke both Paige and Chelsea Green, fueling a situation that has led to a new singles match.
The October 16th match will give Paige the opportunity to respond to that defeat and put a stop to Nikki's taunts.
The story also keeps Chelsea Green linked to the rivalry, although WWE has not confirmed any specific involvement of Green in the announced match.
Another confirmed match for the next week will be the showdown between Damian Priest and R-Truth. The two wrestlers previously teamed up and had different moments together in WWE, but now they are at odds after an incident that occurred backstage.
During the last episode of SmackDown, Damian Priest brutally attacked Fraxiom, the team formed by Nathan Frazer and Axiom. The assault prompted R-Truth to intervene, appearing to help the two wrestlers and stop Priest's attack.
However, his appearance sparked a fight between them that required WWE officials to step in and separate them. As a result, WWE has announced an individual match between Damian Priest and R-Truth for October 16th.
The match will develop a new rivalry between two wrestlers who had previously maintained a camaraderie.
These are the confirmed matches and segments so far for the next edition of Friday Night SmackDown:
WWE may announce new matches and segments in the coming days, so the lineup for the episode is not final yet.
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