Friday’s WWE SmackDown is expected to begin with an appearance by Sami Zayn and end with a major confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
According to ViperReports, WWE has already determined the order of the show’s main attractions, which will take place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
WWE’s official lineup had already confirmed four attractions, but without revealing the order. The new report adds appearances by Zayn and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley.
The expected order for the show can be seen below:
- Sami Zayn will open SmackDown with a segment;
- Paige will face Nikki Bella;
- Damian Priest will face R-Truth;
- Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley will have a segment;
- Rey Fenix will defend the AAA Cruiserweight Championship against Ricky Saints;
- Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton will close the show with a confrontation in the ring;
With things reaching a breaking point, @CodyRhodes and @RandyOrton will meet face-to-face TONIGHT on #SmackDown! 📍: Sacramento, CA 🎟️: https://t.co/IMi1qdcImp 📺 8 ET/7 CT on @USANetwork https://t.co/9m81m8dUdR
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2026
The opening with Zayn gains importance because of his next booking. The current Undisputed WWE Champion will face Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel on Nov. 7 in a Champion vs. Champion Match.
In the women’s division, Bliss and Paxley will make their first announced joint appearance since winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. They defeated Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid on last week’s SmackDown after Charlotte Flair was removed from the match because of a backstage attack.
Another highlight will be the rematch between Paige and Nikki Bella. The two faced each other in September, when Nikki secured a controversial victory by using the ropes during the pinfall.
Rey Fenix will also have a rematch against Ricky Saints, who earned another title shot after defeating him in a Six-Man Tag Team Match earlier this month.
The main point of the lineup, however, is the closing segment. Rhodes had demanded that Nick Aldis put Orton in front of him after weeks of taunts and confrontations between the two. Now, WWE intends to reserve the final minutes of the broadcast for this rivalry.