Austin Theory & Grayson Waller interrupt Cody Rhodes

“Let’s talk about Randy Orton. I have the privilege of calling Randy Orton a ‘friend’ before he was my mentor. He stood by me when others wanted to write me off and I wouldn’t be here as WWE Champion if it weren’t for Randy Orton,” Cody Rhodes begins to a standing ovation for the 14-time World Champion. “Imagine the guilt I feel watching a man who came back from back surgery being attacked by The Bloodline against the commentary table. Family isn’t just about blood, there’s family in wrestling too and Randy is my brother ,” Cody concludes, saddened by the bullets that Orton took last week in his place.

Cody Rhodes now addresses Solo Sikoa, recalling that before WrestleMania 39 he looked him in the eyes, telling him, “You’re not ready . ” And he paid him off appropriately, costing him the title match that will now be contested at SummerSlam. However, Sikoa must not feel good seeing Rhodes still standing and still champion. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory interrupt! Theory berates Rhodes for being the one to blame for Jacob Fatu attacking him a week ago. Cody replies that he thought the swollen jaw was because of his partner’s punch.

Grayson says that Cody can’t take responsibility for his actions and blames Cody as well. Rhodes gets into a brawl with A-Town Down Under and although he is thrown out of the ring, Terence Crawford , who is at ringside, arms him with a chair so that Cody can push the former champions back after hitting Theory with a metal-enforced “Disaster Kick”.

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes assures Andrade that they will see who fails first, and it won’t be him. The two then face each other.

Cody Rhodes meets with Nick Aldis to ask for a match against A-Town Down Under. The SmackDown General Manager tells him to find a partner for the end of the night so he can face Theory & Waller, as he won’t send him there alone, as bait for The Bloodline.