Orton targets Cody’s family ahead of their Atlanta showdown
Summary
– Randy Orton tried to provoke Cody Rhodes into attacking him on SmackDown
– Orton brought up Cody’s family and late dog while escalating the confrontation
– Cody refused to strike and promised to settle things in Atlanta
Randy Orton went after Cody Rhodes on a deeply personal level during the August 28 episode of SmackDown, attempting to provoke him into losing control before their showdown at Sunday Night’s Main Event. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Orton began by focusing on their championship history, reminding Cody that he had previously kicked him in the face and later interfered to prevent him from defeating CM Punk for the title at SummerSlam.
He repeatedly encouraged Cody to take a swing, but Rhodes refused to give him what he wanted. Orton then pushed the confrontation further by bringing up Cody’s late dog Pharaoh and referencing his daughters having to bury the dog at the family home in Atlanta.
With Sunday Night’s Main Event taking place in Atlanta, Orton used Cody’s hometown connection to make the upcoming match even more personal. He promised that Cody’s friends and family would be there to watch him kick Rhodes in the face again.
Orton then insulted Cody’s mother and wife while continuing to demand that Rhodes hit him. Cody recognized the strategy and accused Orton of deliberately trying to get attacked so he could find a way out of their scheduled match.
Rhodes instead told Orton that he was counting down the days until Atlanta, where they would find out whether Orton truly belonged among wrestling’s generational stars or would fall short of the legacy his family was associated with.
That comment finally struck a nerve with Orton, who warned Cody that he had gone too far. Despite the increasingly personal insults, neither man threw the first punch before Orton walked away and promised to see Rhodes in Atlanta.
