Randy Orton to be sidelined due to blockbuster Cody Rhodes return plans, says analyst

Randy Orton is set to face Drew McIntyre this Friday on WWE SmackDown. However, one wrestling analyst believes Cody Rhodes' rumored return could lead to The Viper possibly being on the sidelines.

After a brief pause in their feud, Orton and McIntyre are set to continue their rivalry on SmackDown in a one-on-one match. It's unclear what the stakes are in this bout, but some fans believe that it could lead to a title match against The American Nightmare at Wrestlepalooza.

On the latest episode of the Notsam Wrestling podcast, Sam Roberts explained why Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre need to face each other at Wrestlepalooza. He doesn't mind a Triple Threat Match involving Randy Orton, but Rhodes and McIntyre are due for a singles match.

"For me, Cody Rhodess versus Drew McIntyre feels like the most natural match, and a match that I want to see Drew McIntyre in. But there are a lot of people hoping for the Triple Threat.…There are people that are hoping because we're getting Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton on Smackdown this week. That they're hoping that the match at Wrestlepalooza, that WWE Championship match, becomes a Triple Threat between Cody, Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre, which look, if it is a Triple Threat, that's nothing I'm ever going to complain about. Seeing Cody and Randy and Drew all in the ring together would be unbelievable. But there's still, for me, something about the big singles match. The big singles championship match. The big good guy Cody Rhodes versus the big bad guy Drew McIntyre. That's what I'd like to see," Roberts said.

There are rumors that Cody Rhodes could be returning from filming Street Fighter earlier than scheduled. Triple H also confirmed that Rhodes will be at Wrestlepalooza in Indianapolis.

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Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton each have one win over the other this year

Friday's match between Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton on SmackDown will be their third televised match this year. McIntyre defeated Orton on the March 28 episode of SmackDown, while The Viper got his revenge at Saturday Night's Main Event last July.

It will be interesting to see what the outcome of the third match will be. McIntyre is the one who took out Cody Rhodes last month, which was done to write him off WWE television. Orton, on the other hand, has plenty of history with the Undisputed WWE Champion.

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