Seattle was not treated to the same quality of shows WWE has put on in past weeks. This, folks, was a frustrating "WWE SmackDown," and there's no two ways around it. Hopefully next week's shows can get every storyline properly on track.
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"WWE SmackDown" started as perfectly as I could've hoped after Nick Aldis took an RKO from Randy Orton this past Friday.
The "SmackDown" general manager invited Orton to the ring, promising to remain professional despite the challenge. We got to see an intense Aldis in WWE for the first time. That immediately continued the tease of his WWE in-ring debut, which is long overdue and something I've been wanting since his more testy interactions with Cody Rhodes.
Orton arrived and called back to the first RKO on Aldis, giving double his fine money to cover the inevitable second time. That was some fun little depth to a story that is coming together. Aldis didn't care for it — and he shouldn't have. Realistically, it's not like he's the one who gets Orton's money anyway. Instead, Aldis wanted Orton's respect, which the former WWE Champion stated Aldis already had. Then Orton teased Aldis as his opponent, and even dropped a Mickie James reference to further get under the authority figure's skin.
"I paid in advance and I think we're even"
— WWE (@WWE) April 12, 2025
Can't argue with that logic 🤷@RandyOrton#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/uW35qatiVk
.@RandyOrton has made it clear that he is is NOT missing #WrestleMania 😤
— WWE (@WWE) April 12, 2025
#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/HJepfGuSXd
Oh, it was glorious. This was the quick build toward a match that Aldis deserves — then the lamest, biggest buzzkill of all time arrived in the form of Solo Sikoa, with his dumb hair dye and yappy sidekick Tama Tonga. This interruption was the stupidest, shoehorned booking ever. All to get to an LA Knight tag-team match at the end of the ...
