7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (13 March - Results & Review)

Downs...

4. The Downside To Randy Orton’s Turn

Let's get this out of the way.

Fans there live for this week's SmackDown cheered Randy Orton for destroying Cody Rhodes. That’ll be a recurring theme throughout the rest of the build and into their match at WrestleMania too. WWE are making an almost identical mistake to last year with John Cena by refusing to acknowledge that Rhodes is ready to turn. The fact he’s been pretty much ready since ‘Mania 41 speaks volumes about how slow Triple H and his team are on the uptake.

Yes, patience is important, but read the room guys. It definitely hurt this angle that people roared with approval as the top babyface got wrecked even when he was doing an old school NWA "crimson mask" spot that would've made his father Dusty and the likes of Ric Flair proud. People are just over Rhodes as WWE's poster boy, and the reaction to skits like this one prove that.

In essence, did Randy really turn heel at all? Like, if fans are in his corner for Las Vegas then...well, he isn't a villain. He's the babyface, not Cody. This could be troublesome in weeks ahead, especially if the writers double down on 'Rhodes must be virtuous'. Nah, screw that. If anything, Cody has to show his meanest side after what Orton did to him on Friday.

Portraying him as someone who's happy to 'rise above hate' will only damage his connection with the audience further. WWE better be super careful about how they shape the rest of this rivalry heading into next month's title showdown.