Updated

Updated · WWE · Aug 15

Randy Orton Ambushes Cody Rhodes, Sparking SmackDown Brawl as 2 Titles Change Hands

Updated

Updated · WWE · Aug 15

Randy Orton Ambushes Cody Rhodes, Sparking SmackDown Brawl as 2 Titles Change Hands

Q: Did Randy Orton's brutal SmackDown ambush permanently alter Cody Rhodes' path to the delayed Money in the Bank event?

No. Randy Orton’s latest SmackDown ambush has intensified and likely redirected Cody Rhodes’ immediate route, but there is no evidence it permanently changed his path to Money in the Bank. WWE’s own build and the reported internal rundown for the Aug. 14 SmackDown both pointed to Rhodes as the centerpiece of the closing angle. That is exactly how the show played out: Rhodes sought a confrontation, Nick Aldis tried to delay it until Sunday Night’s Main Event on Sept. 6, and Orton then attacked before Rhodes’ match with Sami Zayn, sparking the brawl that ended the broadcast. The segment advanced the feud rather than writing Rhodes out of the picture. The broader timeline matters. Money in the Bank has been moved to Oct. 10 in New Orleans, giving WWE nearly two more months to continue Rhodes-Orton and still fold Rhodes into the event if it chooses. At this stage, there are no confirmed indications that Rhodes has been removed from Money in the Bank plans, whether for a grudge match with Orton or another major role. What the ambush clearly did alter was Rhodes’ short-term direction. Instead of moving cleanly toward Money in the Bank qualifiers or another title track, he is now locked deeper into a personal feud with Orton, one already tied to WrestleMania 42, SummerSlam, and repeated attacks. That may delay or reshape his route, but “permanently” goes beyond the available facts.

3 articles · Updated · WWE · Aug 15

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