Randy Orton Is Back on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes Reminds Him He’s the ‘Last Legend’

vishalbhawaniSat, August 8, 2026 at 2:05 AM UTC

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Randy Orton returned to WWE SmackDown on Aug. 7 for the first time since costing Cody Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, but answers were hard to come by.

Instead, the longtime rivals traded personal shots that suggested their rivalry is entering a far more dangerous chapter.

The confrontation marked Orton’s first appearance on the blue brand since his WrestleMania 42 program with Rhodes.

While fans expected an explanation for his shocking SummerSlam actions, the former Legacy teammates instead delivered a tense exchange that left plenty hanging in the air.

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton take their rivalry to a darker level

Rhodes called Orton to the ring, demanding to know why he attacked him at SummerSlam and cost him the WWE Championship against CM Punk. Orton, however, insisted he owed Rhodes nothing, reminding him that Rhodes had once asked for the very best version of “The Viper” on the road to WrestleMania.

Orton admitted that losing to Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 changed something inside him. He explained that while the best version of Randy Orton couldn’t defeat Rhodes, the worst version would make sure he captures his 15th world championship — and, more importantly, ensures Rhodes never becomes WWE Champion again.

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The former WWE Champion wasn’t about to back down. He fired back by saying he no longer felt obligated to keep playing the role of the good guy. Then came the line that instantly struck like an RKO out of nowhere.

“Look around, Randy, you’re the last legend left in WWE. So who kills you?”

The remark flipped Orton’s famous “Legend Killer” nickname against him, turning one of WWE’s most iconic monikers into a personal challenge. If words could hit with the force of an RKO, Rhodes had just landed one.

The feud has been building for months. Rhodes defeated Orton at WrestleMania 42 to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship before Orton snapped after the match. At SummerSlam, Orton returned from hiatus and delivered another RKO to Rhodes, directly costing him the championship against Punk.

With Orton embracing the darkest version of himself and Rhodes showing he’s willing to abandon his usual restraint, their rivalry has clearly moved beyond championship gold. Whether the title is involved or not, this feud has become deeply personal, and SmackDown made it clear that neither man is ready to blink first.

Read More: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Reunite on SmackDown, Trouble Quickly Follows

The post Randy Orton Is Back on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes Reminds Him He’s the ‘Last Legend’ appeared first on Wrestlezone.

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Source: “AOL Sports”