Cody Rhodes used a fittingly ominous comparison for Randy Orton during the October 9, 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown, likening the veteran to horror icon Michael Myers from the Halloween film franchise. Rhodes made the remark after interrupting a segment involving The Miz and Kit Wilson, turning the conversation toward his ongoing issue with Orton.
According to Fightful, Rhodes told the crowd that his conflict with Orton is “no longer about who owns my moral compass,” signaling that the rivalry has shifted into more personal territory. The Michael Myers comparison underscores the sense of dread Rhodes appears to associate with Orton’s recent actions, framing him as a relentless, lurking threat rather than a conventional rival.
Orton Turned Away, Face-To-Face Set For Next Week
The tension between the two stems from Orton’s interference in Rhodes’ Money in the Bank qualifying match the previous week, according to F4W Online. Orton reportedly attempted to enter the arena during this week’s SmackDown but was confronted by WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, who chastised him for his prior actions before he could get inside.
Despite being turned away this week, WWE has already set up the next chapter of the story. Both Fightful and F4W Online confirm that Rhodes and Orton are scheduled to meet face-to-face on the October 16, 2026 episode of SmackDown, giving fans a direct confrontation between the two just one week after Orton’s interference and Rhodes’ pointed comments.
Final SmackDown Before Money In The Bank
The October 16 show carries additional weight as the final SmackDown broadcast before Money in the Bank, and Fightful reports that all participants in the Money in the Bank ladder match will be present under one roof that night. Two matches have also been added to the card, though full details on those bouts were not specified in the available reporting.
Separately, Fightful also reported that Damian Priest attacked R-Truth during the October 9 SmackDown broadcast, with consequences of that altercation expected to factor into the build toward next week’s show. How that incident connects to the broader Money in the Bank card remains to be seen heading into the October 16 episode.
With Rhodes escalating his rhetoric and Orton already blocked from entering the arena once, the scheduled face-to-face meeting positions SmackDown’s go-home show before Money in the Bank as a pivotal moment in the storyline, with Nick Aldis’ authority as general manager already established as a factor in how the confrontation unfolds.
