WWE comes up with a new plan for Randy Orton after a failed championship shot at Night of Champions 2025

Randy Orton's pursuit of a record 15th world championship will have to wait a little longer. The WWE legend came up short in the finals of the 24th King of the Ring tournament at Night of Champions 2025, losing to Cody Rhodes in a brutal, hard-fought classic.However, WWE appears to have other major plans for the “Apex Predator.” Following the June 30 edition of Monday Night Raw in Pittsburgh, the company taped the July 4 episode of SmackDown, where a major announcement was made: Orton will go one-on-one with his longtime rival Drew McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12.The taped episode kicked off with Cody Rhodes addressing the WWE Universe, only to be interrupted by the 14-time world champion Randy Orton. Moments later, Drew McIntyre’s music hit, and he made his way to the ring to confront both men. A heated confrontation ensued between Orton and McIntyre, reigniting an old rivalry.Backstage, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis made it official: Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre will take place in Atlanta at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, which will air on NBC.For the unversed, Orton and McIntyre’s rivalry dates back to the pandemic era, where they battled over the WWE Championship multiple times. Their feud featured brutal encounters, including a Hell in a Cell match and a No Disqualification bout that brought their war to an end. Until now!Though Orton fell short of earning another shot at John Cena and the Undisputed WWE Title at Night of Champions, the match added a new layer to his legendary persona. In the closing moments of the match, Orton made the mistake of exposing the turnbuckle by ripping off the padding. This was the error that Rhodes capitalized on. Rhodes slammed Orton into the exposed steel before hitting a decisive Cross Rhodes for the win. Commentator Michael Cole acknowledged Orton’s move, calling him “Cerebral Orton”. It’s a fitting addition to a career already rich in character evolution.Back in 2003, Orton debuted as ‘The Legend Killer’ during his time with Evolution alongside Triple H, Batista, and Ric Flair, feuding with icons like The Undertaker and Mick Foley. Orton later earned the names ‘The Viper’ and ‘The Apex Predator’ as he cemented his legacy as one of WWE’s most decorated stars.Also read: https://thetimesofindia.online/sports/wwe/top-stories/randy-ortons-injury-update-backstage-news-on-the-viper-after-the-dangerous-match-against-cody-rhodes/articleshow/122163101.cms