Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes are embroiled in an intense rivalry on WWE SmackDown. Before their upcoming rematch, Orton took a deeply personal jab at The American Nightmare in a heated backstage segment.
The Viper and Cody Rhodes started feuding on the Road to WrestleMania 42. Before the Undisputed WWE Championship match at ‘Mania, Randy Orton backstabbed Rhodes and turned heel. Despite having Pat McAfee by his side, Orton failed to defeat The American Nightmare at The Show of Shows.
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Orton and Rhodes rekindled their feud at SummerSlam 2026. They are now set to lock horns in a WrestleMania rematch at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Ahead of the high-profile showdown, The Prodigal Son appeared in a backstage interview alongside Corey Graves. The Viper interrupted the segment and fired shots at the Rhodes family again.
After insulting Cody Rhodes’ mother and wife, Randy Orton shifted his attention to The American Nightmare’s dog, Pharaoh. The 14-time World Champion attempted to get under Rhodes’ skin by claiming that Pharaoh would soon be d*ad.
“I even talked about your dog [referring to a recent promo on WWE SmackDown]. Turns out he’s not even dead. He’s got a little ways to go. You’ll be burying him soon, huh? (…) You’re such a good guy, you won’t even lay a finger on me in honor of your family,” Orton said.
During the segment on WWE SmackDown, Orton tried to provoke Rhodes to hit him using many different tricks. However, The American Nightmare refused to attack his former mentor. As a result, The Viper accused Rhodes of being addicted to the Undisputed WWE Championship and prioritizing the title over his family.
Sunday Night’s Main Event will take place in Rhodes’ hometown, Atlanta, on September 6. Fans must stay tuned to find out if The American Nightmare can avenge the insults by beating Orton for the second time this year.
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Edited by Pratik Singh
