Randy Orton made a shocking return at SummerSlam, costing Cody Rhodes his Undisputed WWE Championship and helping CM Punk secure the title in a chaotic conclusion to the premium live event.
Randy Orton Returns and Targets Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam
The high-stakes championship match reached its breaking point when Randy Orton made his unannounced return to WWE programming. According to Bleacher Report, Orton hit Rhodes with an RKO, completely turning the tide of the bout. The sudden attack left Rhodes vulnerable, allowing CM Punk to capitalize and pin him to retain the championship.
Build-Up and Fallout on WWE SmackDown
Tensions between the main event competitors had boiled over just days prior to the pay-per-view. According to CBS Sports, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes engaged in a violent, chaotic brawl on the July 31 episode of SmackDown, trading heavy blows as WWE officials scrambled to separate them.
That physical confrontation previewed the intense animosity that carried into SummerSlam.