Lineup for WWE SmackDown on October 16, 2026: Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton face-to-face; Nikki Bella vs Paige set

WWE Friday Night SmackDown will return on October 16, 2026, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, featuring a face-to-face between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton as the blue brand begins its build to Crown Jewel on November 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The episode will also include two singles matches, highlighted by Nikki Bella versus Paige and R-Truth against Damian Priest.

The Cody Rhodes–Randy Orton confrontation was confirmed after Rhodes delivered a heated promo on the October 9 show and demanded SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis stage a face-to-face meeting; Aldis subsequently booked the segment for this week’s broadcast. The announced card for the October 16 episode lists the Orton–Rhodes segment alongside the two singles bouts on the undercard.

Rhodes and Orton carry a recent, fractured history into the segment: the pair were formerly allies, with Orton having mentored Rhodes earlier in his WWE career, and their relationship has since deteriorated as their paths diverged. The face-to-face is being presented as a focal point of the episode following Rhodes’ on-screen demand and Aldis’ confirmation.

Nikki Bella and Paige will renew their rivalry in a singles match after meeting on September 11, when Bella secured a controversial victory by using the ropes for leverage. The rematch offers Paige a chance to avenge that loss while another win for Bella would bolster her position as she pursues a championship opportunity; the build has emphasized both Bella’s title ambitions and Paige’s desire to settle their differences inside the ring.

R-Truth will face his former tag partner Damian Priest on the October 16 show after their partnership ended when Priest turned on Truth during WWE’s September visit to Mexico City, accusing Truth of holding him back. The breakup has set up a singles encounter between the two on SmackDown as they move from partners to opponents.

The October 16 episode follows the conclusion of Money in the Bank 2026, where Tiffany Stratton won the women’s ladder match and Penta captured the men’s briefcase; both outcomes could play into future championship storylines as WWE shifts focus toward Crown Jewel. While no specific returns were announced for the night, the promotion noted that stars absent from recent programming may appear on the October 16 broadcast.

The card announced for SmackDown includes the Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton segment and the two singles matches mentioned, and the show is expected to feature several regulars on the roster. Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California, will host the October 16 episode, and names expected to be part of the broadcast include CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, Gunther, Niki Bella, Paige, R-Truth, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams.