Cody Rhodes Challenges Drew McIntyre After SmackDown Victory

NORFOLK, Virginia – On Friday, September 12, WWE SmackDown featured significant matchups as Drew McIntyre defeated Randy Orton, followed by an unexpected challenge from Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

The show kicked off with a confrontation between Brock Lesnar and R-Truth. Lesnar, who is set to face John Cena at Wrestlepalooza, took R-Truth down with a powerful F-5, dominating their brief exchange.

In a thrilling United States Title Open Challenge match, Sami Zayn successfully defended his championship against Rey Fenix after a fierce battle lasting nearly 16 minutes. Zayn secured the win with a Helluva Kick, much to the crowd’s delight.

The next match was interrupted by an unexpected assault. Michin intervened with a Kendo stick during a planned bout between Women’s Champion Giulia and B-Fab, resulting in a no-contest after a chaotic brawl broke out.

The Women’s Championship match between Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill ended dramatically; after Cargill shoved Stratton into the barricade, both competitors were counted out at ringside, leaving the match unresolved.

In the main event, Drew McIntyre overcame Randy Orton after a competitive match. McIntyre used a Claymore Kick to secure his victory. However, the action didn’t conclude there. Following McIntyre’s win, Cody Rhodes made a surprising return to confront McIntyre with a challenge for a title match at Wrestlepalooza.

“Drew McIntyre, the champ is back,” Rhodes declared, setting the stage for an intense showdown in the future.