Overview
- Orton interrupted The Miz’s opening promo, rejected a proposed “Miz‑KO” alliance, and dropped him with two RKOs.
- After the segment, he told Cody Rhodes he plans to pursue the WWE Championship following Rhodes’ Three Stages of Hell match with Drew McIntyre in Berlin next week.
- Commentators underscored the shake-up by declaring that nobody on SmackDown is safe with Orton back.
- The episode marked SmackDown’s return to a three-hour format to kick off 2026.
- This was Orton’s first SmackDown appearance in roughly three months, with the Royal Rumble later this month framing the evolving title picture.