Cody Rhodes to meet Randy Orton on SmackDown in Sacramento; Nikki Bella vs Paige and R-Truth vs Damian Priest also set for Oct. 16
On October 16, 2026 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, WWE SmackDown will stage a face-to-face between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton and will feature matches including Nikki Bella vs Paige and R-Truth vs Damian Priest. The announcements follow SmackDown’s Money in the Bank 2026 go-home edition, which concluded at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The go-home SmackDown included appearances from all twelve participants in the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank and several storyline developments. Gunther battled Danhausen, and Finn Balor came to aid the very nice, very evil star. An attack by Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab forced Charlotte Flair out of a scheduled tag match against the Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid), prompting Alexa Bliss to step in and, alongside Tatum Paxley, defeat the Fatal Influence to become the new Women’s Tag Team Champions.
WWE has listed CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, Gunther and Trick Williams as featured superstars for the October 16 SmackDown in Sacramento. The promotion confirmed the card and the location in advance of the weekly broadcast.
Cody Rhodes delivered what the report described as a scathing promo this week and demanded that GM Nick Aldis arrange a face-to-face meeting with Randy Orton; Aldis has confirmed Rhodes and Orton will meet next week. The segment announcement formalizes the on-air confrontation that Rhodes requested following his remarks.
A rematch between Nikki Bella and Paige has also been booked for the Sacramento show. According to the report, Bella has her sights on the World title, while Paige is intent on lashing out punishment in the rematch.
R-Truth will take on his former tag partner Damian Priest on the October 16 SmackDown. The report notes Priest turned on Truth last month in Mexico City and, this week, attacked Fraxiom backstage when Truth arrived to lay out his former tag partner.
The next WWE Premium Live Event after Money in the Bank 2026 is Crown Jewel, scheduled for November 7, 2026 at the Riyadh Season Stadium in KAFD, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.