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Randy Orton Faces Cody Rhodes at WWE Sunday Night's Main Event

2026-08-29 · Randy Orton · Match Report

Randy Orton Faces Cody Rhodes at WWE Sunday Night's Main Event

Randy Orton is headed for a major showdown with Cody Rhodes at WWE's historic Sunday Night's Main Event. Their match is set for September 6, 2026, in Atlanta, with the build reaching a fever pitch on the August 28 episode of SmackDown.

What happened between Orton and Rhodes on SmackDown?

On the pre-taped August 28 SmackDown from Ottawa, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton had a tense in-ring segment. Rhodes, emotionally discussing the upcoming battle, traded heated words with Orton. The segment was a key part of the go-home show building to the September 6 event. Cody Rhodes even declared he would defeat Randy Orton, making a bold spoiler claim about the match's outcome.

This confrontation directly sets the stage for their singles match at Sunday Night's Main Event.

How is WWE building to Sunday Night's Main Event?

The entire August 28 SmackDown was designed as a go-home show for the September 6 pay-per-view. Beyond the Orton-Rhodes face-off, the episode featured multiple segments advancing other storylines for the Atlanta event. Kevin Owens kicked off the show with a promo that led to a number one contender's match also involving CM Punk, Gunther, and Finn Balor.

Other matches on the SmackDown card included Tatum Paxley defeating Michin in her main roster debut and a tag team match featuring Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green. The show concluded with a major angle where CM Punk and Sami Zayn crashed the main event, adding another layer to the SNME build.

What is the full lineup for the key SmackDown episode?

The August 28 episode, taped in Ottawa's Canadian Tire Centre, had a stacked card focused on SNME promotion. Confirmed matches and segments included Tatum Paxley versus Michin, a triple threat number one contender's match between Kevin Owens, Gunther, and Finn Balor, and a tag team bout with The Irresistible Forces facing Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green.

Jacy Jayne also wrestled Paige, with Nikki Bella returning post-match to attack Paige. The show's spoilers indicated major developments across the roster, all feeding into the larger narrative for the early September premium live event.

  • Randy Orton will face Cody Rhodes at Sunday Night's Main Event on September 6, 2026.
  • The two rivals had a heated verbal exchange on the August 28 SmackDown go-home show.
  • The entire episode from Ottawa was built around promoting the historic Atlanta event.
  • Other top stars like CM Punk, Kevin Owens, and Gunther were also involved in key SNME-building segments.

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