WWE Smackdown Results: Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton march into King of the Ring semis; John Cena to face R-Truth next week

On the latest episode of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton advanced to the semifinals of the King of the Ring tournament with hard-fought victories at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

In a high-stakes Fatal 4-Way match on WWE SmackDown, Orton emerged victorious against LA Knight, Aleister Black, and Carmelo Hayes to secure his place in the King of the Ring semis.

The chaotic finish saw Bron Breakker interfere, delivering a massive Spear to LA Knight. Taking advantage of the disruption, Orton hit Hayes with a thunderous RKO.


As the dust settled, Orton pinned Knight - who had just been struck by Hayes moments earlier - to clinch the win. The Viper’s experience and opportunistic instincts proved decisive, moving him one step closer to claiming the coveted King of the Ring crown.


Rhodes ensured his journey in the King of the Ring tournament continued with a clutch victory in another intense Fatal 4-Way match featuring Shinsuke Nakamura, Andrade, and Damian Priest later in the night.

The bout saw near falls and momentum shifts, with Nakamura nearly sealing the win after setting up Cody for a Cross Rhodes of his own. But Rhodes countered just in time, escaping the move and delivering a decisive Cross Rhodes to Nakamura.

With the pinfall, Rhodes joined Orton in the semifinals, keeping his hopes of becoming King of the Ring very much alive.


Orton now faces a tough semi-final clash against Sami Zayn, with a spot in the King of the Ring finals on the line. Zayn’s resilience and crowd support will test Orton’s experience and opportunism.

Meanwhile, Rhodes awaits his semis opponent, who will emerge from a stacked bracket featuring Bronson Reed, Jey Uso, Rusev, and Sheamus. All four are set to compete in a first-round matchup, with the winner eventually squaring off against Rhodes.

As the tournament heats up, the path to the King of the Ring throne remains full of high-stakes battles and unpredictable twists.

JOHN CENA TO FACE R-TRUTH NEXT WEEK

John Cena’s iconic music hit once again during the night, but instead of R-Truth answering the call, CM Punk made his way out. The two exchanged words, building anticipation for their upcoming Undisputed Championship clash.

As Cena turned to leave the ring, R-Truth blindsided him yet again, locking in the STF and forcing security to rush in and separate them.


Later backstage, R-Truth demanded a match against Cena on next week’s SmackDown from General Manager Nick Aldis - and the request was granted. The heated rivalry is set to continue with fireworks guaranteed.