Randy Orton's SmackDown No-Show Sparks Ratings Dip Amidst Renewed Cody Rhodes Feud

Randy Orton's no-show on the October 16 edition of WWE SmackDown failed to boost the show's viewership, with ratings dipping slightly from the prior week. The advertised face-to-face meeting with rival Cody Rhodes instead saw Orton interfere in a match, escalating their bitter personal feud that has dominated recent programming.

The numbers were not what WWE hoped for. The October 16 SmackDown on USA Network averaged 1.327 million viewers and a 0.32 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. That was a small drop from the October 9 episode, which drew 1.352 million viewers with the same demo rating. A year earlier, on October 17, 2025, the show averaged 1.180 million viewers. Analyst Jason Powell noted that Orton did not appear for the promised confrontation, instead attacking Rhodes after an impromptu match with Baron Corbin.

This conflict stretches back well over a decade. Cody Rhodes's first main roster match was against Orton, and he later served as Randy's protege in the Legacy faction. Their paths have crossed repeatedly, including a 2013 storyline where Orton represented The Authority against Cody, Goldust, and their father Dusty Rhodes. After years of friendship following Cody's WWE return, Orton viciously turned on him to set up a WrestleMania main event. That high-profile match, however, was widely seen as a letdown, bogged down by outside interference and meta-storytelling that frustrated fans. Their current rivalry is viewed as a chance to correct those missteps and deliver a more focused, intense program.

Away from the current animosity on screen, Orton recently made headlines for a significant act of kindness. He gifted a wrestling impersonator a remarkable $2,400 present. The specific details of the gift and the recipient were not fully elaborated in the available report, but the gesture highlights a different side of the veteran performer known for his ruthless Viper persona.

• Key Takeaways: The October 16 SmackDown's slight ratings dip suggests the Orton-Rhodes storyline needs a new spark to capture audience interest fully.
• Their feud is deeply personal betrayal and family legacy.
• Outside of WWE, Orton recently made a generous $2,400 gift to a fan impersonator.