WWE has added three featured items to the card for the October 16 episode of SmackDown, including a segment bringing Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton together on the final blue-brand show before Money in the Bank.
Rhodes and Orton are slated to appear in a segment rather than a match, leaving the precise nature of their encounter open heading into the broadcast. Their presence on the same show gives WWE a major focal point for the final stretch before Money in the Bank, particularly after the latest edition of SmackDown placed all of the event’s ladder-match participants under one roof.
Two singles matches have also been announced. Damian Priest will face R-Truth after Priest attacked him on the October 9 edition of SmackDown. In addition, Nikki Bella will meet Paige in another singles bout.
October 16 SmackDown lineup
- R-Truth vs. Damian Priest
- Nikki Bella vs. Paige
- Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton segment
The announced card gives the October 16 program a mix of direct in-ring follow-up, a renewed rivalry, and a high-profile segment involving two of WWE’s most recognizable stars. WWE has not specified what Rhodes and Orton will discuss or whether the segment will lead to additional matches or announcements.
For more background on this topic, read Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley Capture WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles on SmackDown.
Damian Priest and R-Truth set to settle recent issue
The most immediate conflict heading into the show comes from Priest’s attack on R-Truth. That confrontation established a clear reason for the two men to meet one-on-one, with R-Truth now receiving the opportunity to answer Priest inside the ring.
Priest has long carried himself with a forceful, confrontational edge, and the attack on R-Truth has moved their issue from an angle on the weekly program to an officially scheduled match. For R-Truth, the contest represents a chance to shift the momentum after being left on the receiving end of Priest’s actions.
There are no further stipulations announced for the match. As it stands, it is a standard singles encounter, making the personal nature of the conflict the central story rather than any special rules. WWE could provide further details before the broadcast, but Priest versus R-Truth is currently confirmed as one of the night’s two matches.
The pairing also offers an intriguing contrast in presentation. R-Truth’s unpredictable personality has made him one of WWE’s most distinct veterans, while Priest brings a more imposing and intense approach. Whether the issue is resolved in one night or develops further will be determined by what happens on October 16.
Nikki Bella and Paige renew their rivalry
Nikki Bella and Paige will also go head-to-head once again on the October 16 show. Their latest meeting places two major names from a significant era in WWE’s women’s division back in the ring against one another.
The wording of the announcement makes clear that this is not their first encounter. WWE is presenting the bout as another chapter between Bella and Paige, giving both competitors an opportunity to add a new result to their history against each other.
Both women have substantial name recognition and contrasting in-ring identities. Bella built a reputation as a powerful, determined competitor during her WWE career, while Paige became known for her unconventional style and ability to bring an aggressive, high-energy approach to a match. That contrast has helped make their previous clashes notable, and it remains the foundation for this newly announced contest.
No additional conditions, championship stakes, or outside participants have been announced. The focus is simply on Bella versus Paige, with the match set to stand on its own as a singles attraction on a card that is otherwise closely tied to the approaching Money in the Bank event.
A renewed matchup can carry a different tone from a first-time meeting. Familiarity can create confidence, but it can also lead to heightened urgency when each wrestler knows what the other is capable of. On October 16, Bella and Paige will have the chance to revisit that competitive history in front of the SmackDown audience.
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton share the spotlight
The scheduled segment involving Rhodes and Orton is the most open-ended item currently announced for the show. WWE has confirmed that both men will be part of a segment, but has not revealed whether it will be an in-ring interview, a face-to-face confrontation, a promo exchange, or another format.
That uncertainty is likely to make the segment a major point of interest. Rhodes and Orton each bring considerable stature to any SmackDown appearance, and a shared segment between them naturally raises questions about their respective goals as Money in the Bank draws closer.
WWE’s October 9 episode featured all Money in the Bank ladder-match participants on the same program, putting the event’s key competitors in the spotlight before the final television stop ahead of the premium live event. The Rhodes-Orton segment ensures that the October 16 broadcast will continue to feature prominent names during that closing stretch.
It is important, however, not to read unannounced details into the listing. WWE has not confirmed a match between Rhodes and Orton, has not attached any stipulation to their segment, and has not outlined a specific dispute between them in the announcement. The only certainty is that the two will be involved in a featured segment on the show.
Still, segments of this kind can be significant on a go-home episode. They can clarify motivations, sharpen existing tensions, establish the tone for an upcoming event, or simply place star power at the center of the program. Rhodes and Orton have the experience and presence to command attention regardless of which direction WWE chooses.
Final SmackDown before Money in the Bank
The October 16 edition of SmackDown will serve as the final episode before Money in the Bank, adding extra importance to every announced piece of the lineup. Go-home programming often emphasizes final confrontations, unresolved issues, and last statements before a major event, and WWE has already positioned the show around those kinds of possibilities.
The previous episode’s gathering of all ladder-match participants established Money in the Bank as the immediate priority. The following week will now supplement that event build with the Rhodes-Orton segment while also delivering two distinct singles matches that do not currently carry announced ladder-match implications.
Priest versus R-Truth gives WWE a straightforward grudge-match story after a physical attack. Bella versus Paige offers a high-profile renewal of a familiar women’s rivalry. The Rhodes-Orton segment provides the night with an element of unpredictability, since WWE has deliberately left its details unspecified.
Together, those three items form the current confirmed direction for the broadcast. Additional matches, appearances, or developments could still be announced before October 16, but WWE’s initial lineup already establishes several reasons to watch the final SmackDown before Money in the Bank.
What is confirmed for October 16
At this point, fans can expect Priest and R-Truth to take their issue into a sanctioned singles match following Priest’s attack. Bella and Paige will resume their in-ring rivalry in another one-on-one contest. Rhodes and Orton will appear in a segment whose content remains undisclosed.
With Money in the Bank immediately ahead, the October 16 broadcast has a clear role in shaping WWE’s final momentum. The results of the two matches and the direction of the Rhodes-Orton encounter will determine whether the show closes with resolution, escalation, or new questions heading into the event.
For now, WWE’s official lineup is centered on those three attractions: R-Truth versus Damian Priest, Nikki Bella versus Paige, and a featured segment with Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.