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Randy Orton’s New Victim Sends 3-Word Message Following WWE SmackDown

By John Canton • Published Mar 21, 2026 11:30 EDT
Randy Orton WWE
Randy Orton WWE RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA during SmackDown at Lenovo Center on March 20, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by WWE/WWE)

A WWE SmackDown superstar got in Randy Orton’s way, and it was a big mistake.

During the WWE Championship WrestleMania 42 contract signing on SmackDown on March 13th, Randy Orton shockingly turned heel by attacking his close friend Cody Rhodes.

The segment saw Orton brutally attack Rhodes so much that Rhodes was left a bloody mess as Orton took a steel chair to Rhodes’ head, or at least that’s what it was supposed to look like.

One week later, on WWE SmackDown in Raleigh, Randy Orton said that Rhodes told him to be the best version of Orton that you can be. Orton said that Rhodes wanted to face The Viper and for Orton to listen to the voices. Orton admitted that when he does that, he’s not always in control, and chaos happens. The Viper added that he knows he needs that killer instinct to add #15 (World Titles) to his legacy.

Later on SmackDown, Matt Cardona confronted Orton over what Orton did to Rhodes, who is one of Cardona’s best friends. Orton told Matt to go play with some action figures, and Orton called Matt a “mark ass nerd” among other things. Orton hit Matt with a forearm and told him to stay out of Orton’s business.

Randy Orton’s Apology Led To Another Attack On WWE SmackDown

In the main event of WWE SmackDown, Randy Orton invited Matt Cardona to the ring. Orton said that he thinks action figures are cool, he plays video games, and he has known Matt for 20 years. Orton said he was sorry and asked Matt to forgive him. Orton hugged Cardona, and Cardona hugged him back. They shook hands, so Orton kicked Cardona in the groin. Orton hit an RKO. which likely didn’t surprise many viewers at home.

After the RKO attack, Orton had the steel steps with him and was going to do more damage, but WWE Officials, referees, and security were there to try to calm Orton down. The fans were chanting “Randy” for Orton. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis tried to calm Orton down by telling him to think about his future and to think about WrestleMania.

Orton put Matt into the ring and stomped on him. Orton put Matt’s left arm inside a steel chair, but security stopped Orton from doing more. Nobody took the chair away, of course, so Orton paused, and Orton stomped on the steel chair that was on Matt’s left arm with the idea being that Orton broke Cardona’s left arm or injured him at least.

In a post on X/Twitter, Matt Cardona simply wrote “About last night…” and shared an image of his shirt saying, “I’m not done.”

Cody Rhodes didn’t appear on SmackDown in Raleigh in order to sell the attack that Orton did on him one week earlier. Rhodes will likely return for next week’s show.