Featured image: Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly. Photo: TheChanel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
The Lowdown
Last Man Standing is the right call because this feud has run out of clean finishes. Orton has beaten Rhodes by begging for mercy and then going low; the only way to settle it is a match where Orton can’t steal a three-count.
Key Takeaways
- SmackDown GM Nick Aldis made Rhodes vs. Orton a Last Man Standing match for Crown Jewel on the October 23 SmackDown (Wikipedia)).
- Orton cost Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam in August (Wikipedia)).
- Orton beat Rhodes at Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6 with a low blow and an RKO (WWE).
- Crown Jewel is Saturday, November 7, in Riyadh (Wikipedia)).
The Story
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are going to settle this without a referee’s count. On the October 23 episode of SmackDown, General Manager Nick Aldis booked the two for a Last Man Standing match at Crown Jewel on November 7 (Wikipedia)).
The feud goes back to WrestleMania 42, where Rhodes beat Orton to keep the Undisputed WWE Championship. Orton returned at SummerSlam and cost Rhodes the title (Wikipedia)).
Their rematch at Sunday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta ended in classic Viper fashion: with the referee down and Rhodes lining up a punt, Orton begged for mercy, then hit Rhodes with an uppercut below the belt and an RKO for the win (WWE).
On the October 30 SmackDown, Rhodes promised to punt Orton’s head off his shoulders in Riyadh (WWE).
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More Context
- Wikipedia — Crown Jewel (2026) ↗
- WWE — Sunday Night’s Main Event results ↗
- WWE — SmackDown results: Oct. 30, 2026 ↗