Randy Orton's Return to WWE: RKOs and a Message for Cody Rhodes
Cain A. Knight, a seasoned pro wrestling analyst, takes us through Randy Orton's dramatic return to WWE, complete with RKOs and a bold message for Cody Rhodes. Since 2014, Knight has been dissecting the sport for Cageside Seats, drawing on his deep-rooted passion for wrestling dating back to the 1980s.
The new year brings a three-hour WWE SmackDown, but The Miz isn't ready to let go of 2025 just yet. He kicks off the show in a foul mood, venting about a year filled with disappointments, including not being the one to make John Cena retire and the return of the 'tiny balls' chant led by Joe Hendry. Miz also takes aim at the fans in Buffalo, highlighting his own championship wins in contrast to their underperforming sports teams.
This sparks the unexpected return of Randy Orton, who receives a massive pop from the crowd. Orton, a die-hard Buffalo Sabres fan, makes his first appearance on SmackDown in three months, donning a Sabres shirt. The Miz attempts to charm Orton with a Miz-KO team-up, but Orton swiftly dismisses the idea with an RKO, followed by another RKO with a 'Happy New Year!' greeting.
Corey Graves describes the latter RKO as 'outta nowhere,' despite Orton's clear intent. Orton poses and relishes the cheers as the segment concludes, with commentators emphasizing that no one on SmackDown is safe now that Orton is back. This sentiment is reinforced after the commercial break when Orton declares his intention to challenge Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship after his upcoming match against Drew McIntyre in the Three Stages of Hell in Berlin.
As the Royal Rumble approaches at the end of the month, fans are left wondering what's next for Randy Orton. Will he continue his dominant streak and challenge for the top title? The wrestling world eagerly awaits the unfolding drama, with Orton's return setting the stage for exciting times ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates and results from SmackDown in our live blog. (https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/408133/wwe-smackdown-results-live-discussion-jan-2-2026-stipulations-revealed)
