Cody Rhodes will face Randy Orton at WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6, 2026, from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. With their rivalry becoming increasingly personal, WWE has several ways to finish the match without ending the story after one meeting.
Orton returned at SummerSlam and delivered an RKO to Rhodes, helping prevent The American Nightmare from defeating CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Orton later said he intended to stop Cody from capturing his 15th world title.
Their problems continued on the August 14 episode of SmackDown. Orton attacked Rhodes before his scheduled match against Sami Zayn, starting a fight that spread through TD Garden. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis later made their Atlanta match official. Cody will have the support of his hometown crowd, but Orton has shown that winning the match may not be his only objective. Here are three possible finishes WWE could book.
3. Cody Rhodes Pins Randy Orton Clean
The most straightforward finish would see Cody defeat Orton without interference. Orton could control the match by attacking Cody’s back and attempting several RKOs. Cody could survive the first RKO before countering another attempt into Cross Rhodes. After Orton kicks out, Cody could deliver two more Cross Rhodes to earn the pinfall.
A clean victory would allow Cody to answer Orton’s repeated attacks while winning in front of the Atlanta crowd. It would also prove that Cody has moved beyond his former Legacy mentor. WWE could continue the rivalry after the match by having Orton attack Cody during his celebration. Orton could hit another RKO or attempt the Punt, showing that losing has only made him more determined to damage Cody’s career. This finish would give the crowd a satisfying result without necessarily closing the rivalry.
2. Randy Orton Steals the Victory After Targeting Cody’s Injured Back
Orton may defeat Cody without receiving help from another wrestler, but the victory is unlikely to come through an ordinary pinfall. Cody has already suffered several attacks from Orton, giving The Viper a target before the match begins. Orton could spend most of the contest working on Cody’s back before exposing a turnbuckle or using the ropes while the referee is out of position.
The finish could see Cody prepare for Cross Rhodes, only for Orton to push him into the exposed turnbuckle. One RKO could then give Orton the three-count. This would allow Orton to win without making Cody appear weak. Cody could argue that Orton was unable to defeat him fairly, leading to a rematch with a stipulation that removes shortcuts.
An Orton victory would also support his promise to prevent Cody from returning to the Undisputed WWE Championship picture. Losing in Atlanta could push Cody into demanding one final match where Orton cannot escape.
1. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton Fight to a No Contest
The most likely finish may be one where neither man officially wins. Their previous SmackDown encounter quickly became an uncontrollable fight, with officials struggling to keep them apart. WWE could repeat that scene in Atlanta by allowing the match to leave the ring and spread into the crowd.
Orton could attack Cody with a chair or send him through the announce table, causing the referee to call for the bell. Cody could then refuse medical help and continue fighting, even after the match has ended. The fight could finish with Cody hitting Cross Rhodes through the announce table or Orton delivering an RKO from an elevated position. Security and other wrestlers would then be needed to separate them.
A no-contest finish would protect both wrestlers and show that an ordinary singles match cannot contain their rivalry. Nick Aldis could respond by announcing a rematch inside a Steel Cage, Hell in a Cell or under No Holds Barred rules. WWE has presented this match as Cody and Orton “going to war,” which suggests the company may be planning something less controlled than a clean pinfall. Their history also gives WWE enough material to extend the program beyond September 6.
Wrestling
