10 Biggest Talking Points From WWE SmackDown (Aug 9)
6. Buttering Up Alberto
Since making his return at Battleground, Randy Orton has been running through some of the company's mid-level talent. First, it was Intercontinental Champion The Miz, whom he defeated without much difficulty. Then, it was Fandango, whom he had beat with an RKO before Brock Lesnar ran in and attacked him.
This week, Orton was in action against Alberto Del Rio, who got in his face during the show's opening segment. This match was longer than the others, with plenty of back and forth between the two men. Orton eventually won, but it wasn't a dominant victory - a frustrated Del Rio hit "The Viper" with a chair, drawing a DQ. Del Rio continued the assault, but Orton still managed to drop him with an RKO.
Given that Orton is heading to the main event of SummerSlam, there's really no reason for him not to cleanly beat Del Rio. Still, there have been rumors that Del Rio has a contractual "out" that would allow him to leave the company next month if he's not happy. Maybe keeping him from doing a job was a way of trying to keep him happy? Or maybe I'm just overanalyzing things.