This week's SmackDown has the battle royal match with the winner challenging for the WWE Championship at the next pay-per-view. Among the competitors were mostly all the top stars from the likes of Judgment Day, The Miz, Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Jey Uso, The O.C., New Day, Bobby Lashley and the new Street Profits.
Along with that match is a one on one match as former tag team champions collide in one on one action as the former Dashing Ones Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre collide for the first time ever.
As for Alex, he'll be at ringside watching the battle royal very closely as he has to look out for both his next challenger and Randy himself.
One of the segments for the show was a cut in promo of Randy Orton as he compares his timeline to that of Alex's.
Randy: for over 21 years, I have lived and breathed this business, going all the way back to my father and grandfather. At 24 years old, I became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion while Alex was still a kid in college. At 27 years, I've captured my first WWE Championship while Alex was wrestling for 200-300 people at small high school gyms. Alex Auditore only captured the Universal Championship from just luck, but me I became a 14 time world champion because I'm just that good. Alex only became interested in this business from just watching me and wishes to be like me. But he needs to know that I am on my way to break Ric Flair and John Cena's record of 16 world championships. As far as the battle royal is concerned, I will be watching closely and be on the look out for my next prey
The segment ended as it now cuts back to the arena for the one on one match. Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre made their respective entrances as the WWE Universe recalled their one time alliance over a decade ago when they captured the tag team championship under their name, The Dashing Ones.
Rhodes and McIntyre stepped up to each other and stared daggers at one another before starting to trade punches. The former tag team partners recalled their history of their last encounter at the British wrestling promotion Defiant Wrestling, formerly known as WCPW, in which was McIntyre's final match before his return to WWE.
Rhodes fazed the Scotsman with his signature right hand shot before running to the ropes, but McIntyre fires back as he catches Cody and throws him over for a back body drop. The American Nightmare stumbled to the corner, giving Drew the chance to run for a splash, knocking the wind out of Cody, then drops him with the Future Shock, but only for a two count.
(Fast forward)
Rhodes ducked a right hand from Drew and hits the Disaster Kick, fazing McIntyre. Cody went to the ropes again and hits the Cody Cutter, knocking Drew down. However, the American Nightmare didn't go for the count and instead looks to add more damage as he waited for Drew to get up. As McIntyre stumbled to his feet, Cody got him in position for the Cross Rhodes, but McIntyre got out of it and pushes Rhodes to the ropes, ducks a right hand, runs to the ropes and hits the American Nightmare with the Claymore.
However, as he went for the pin, Orton slid in and takes down the Scottish Warrior with an RKO. The two Legacy members went for a 2 on 1 assault on McIntyre, but the odds evened up as Alex ran down to the ring, but Orton escaped as the WWE Champion took down Rhodes with a superkick. The Pharaoh helped McIntyre up while Legacy retreated.
(Time skip)
SmackDown advertised two tag team matches for next week. Legacy will team up for the first time in 13 years as Orton and Rhodes takes on the Brawling Brutes' Ridge Holland and Butch. The other tag match has WWE Champion Alex Auditore team with Drew McIntyre to take on the young arrogant team Pretty Deadly.
Now all focus is on the all-star battle royal for a WWE Championship opportunity. Alex was sitting at the commentators' table and watched every worthy contender in the ring. The champion had his eyes on some certain Superstars such as his fellow young gun pillars Austin Theory and Dominik Mysterio, his former archenemy The Miz, his former friend Finn Balor and the enforcer for the Bloodline from Monday Night Raw, the Street Champion Solo Sikoa. However, there were a couple of the participants Alex would want to fight for the title such as Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, AJ Styles and "Main Event" Jey Uso.
The match started and fight started as every Superstar's mindset is on winning the match and earning a WWE title opportunity. The first two to be eliminated were the O.C.'s Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, leaving the Phenomenal One on his own for the rest of the match.
(Time skip)
The remaining Superstars in the ring were Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, The Miz, Dominik Mysterio, Grayson Waller, Austin Theory, Finn Balor and Damian Priest. It was an 8 on 3 predicament for the good guys, but the match being a battle royal, it was every man for himself.
Jey Uso and Sami Zayn got some revenge on the Bloodline as they eliminated both Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa, much to the surprise of Alex at ringside. The Pharaoh stood up and shared a stare down with Solo as the Bloodline retreated to the back.
Another pair of eliminations came as KO eliminated both Miz and Waller from the match, much to the satisfaction of Alex as he couldn't help but to smirk and shake his head. The WWE Champion mocked the A-Lister and the Arrogant Aussie by waving them goodbye Tommaso Ciampa style.
Theory looked to form an alliance with Dom and the Judgment Day, but the group wasn't having it and Priest solved the problem by laying Theory out with South of Heaven before tossing him over the top rope to eliminate him, bringing the battle royal down to six top stars. Owens, Zayn and Jey fought with the three members of Judgment Day as Alex watches from the edge of his seat that one of those six men will be his next challenger.
(Fast forward)
As the Judgment Day's muscle, Damian Priest eliminated both Owens and Zayn from the match, but however, Main Event Jey tossed out both Balor and Dominik, much to the pop of the crowd while Alex nods in approval.
Dominik was all livid as he slammed his hands on the announcer table; seeing enough of the young Mysterio's antics, Alex took out Dom with a superkick.
Back in the ring, Jey used every move in his arsenal to take down the Punisher of Judgment Day. Priest tried for South of Heaven again, but Jey got out of it and fazed Damian with a superkick, making him stumble to the ropes, then the final blow has Jey superkicked Priest out of the ring to win the battle royal.
Alex stood up and clapped for the winner of the battle royal and his next challenger for the WWE Championship, "Main Event" Jey Uso. The Pharaoh got in the ring and stared down at Jey. The two men shared common respect for one another as they shook hands while Alex raised his WWE title, giving the crowd a preview of the inevitable showdown.
However, the celebration was cut short as Orton's music played and out came the Legend Killer himself. Randy stopped at the stage and stared down at both Alex and Jey as SmackDown went of the air.
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The Legacy: Father vs. Son
Hayran KurguUnder Randy Orton's tutelage, Alex Auditore knows that the sky is the limit and has built his reputation as the WWE's top star. However, Randy knows Alex can't be where he is without him and has felt that he is becoming irrelevant. Orton wants to be...
