Randy Orton laid out Drew McIntyre with an RKO during the SmackDown taping in Dublin, as WWE Champion Cody Rhodes missed his second consecutive week of television with no official medical update on his condition. The confrontation shifts the immediate title picture, suggesting a feud between Orton and McIntyre is imminent while the champion remains sidelined.
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The segment in Dublin saw McIntyre approach the commentary table and once again demand a medical status report on Rhodes from Joe Tessitore, only to be told there was no new information. Taking to the ring, McIntyre unleashed a verbal tirade, calling Rhodes a “little btch”* and vowing to become the champion the next time they share a ring.
As McIntyre continued his promo, Orton emerged behind him, delivering a surprise RKO to the Scottish Warrior. This development appears to alter previous expectations of a Rhodes vs. McIntyre match at the upcoming Clash in Paris.
Rhodes has not been seen since suffering a major attack at the hands of McIntyre on the August 8th episode of SmackDown. The champion’s absence comes just weeks after he regained the WWE Championship from John Cena in a brutal Street Fight in the main event of SummerSlam on August 3.
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