Fans in and around Chicago, Illinois are in for a great WWE show tonight. Friday Night SmackDown will be airing live from the Allstate Arena in what should be a capacity crowd of 13,000-14,000 fans according to WrestleTix.
This episode of the blue brand will feature many top stars, including RAW's CM Punk, but above all else, the show will focus on building up the Money in the Bank card. The big premium live event is rapidly approaching and will host two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, as has become a tradition.
A qualifying bout for the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match will take place on SmackDown tonight featuring Randy Orton. The Viper will be taking on The Bloodline's Tama Tonga and former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes in a Triple Threat Match.
This article will break down a handful of possible finishes for this Triple Threat Match. Potential end results include chaos with The Bloodline, an appearance from Cody Rhodes, and beyond. Below are four possible finishes for Randy Orton vs. Tama Tonga vs. Carmelo Hayes on WWE SmackDown.
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#4. Randy Orton could win cleanly on WWE SmackDown
Randy Orton is one of the most decorated and legendary wrestlers of WWE post-Attitude Era. He made his main roster debut in 2002 and has been a regular ever since. Orton is a 14-time World Champion.
Many feared that The Viper would never return to a WWE ring. He was injured in 2022 and remained out of action for around a year and a half. Thankfully, Orton made his return at Survivor Series: WarGames last year and has been a regular ever since.
Despite Carmelo and Tama being experienced performers, Orton is a true veteran who has all of the big stage experience one needs to succeed. As a result, he may plot carefully and hit an RKO out of nowhere to pick up a pinfall victory tonight. Carmelo may end up being his victim.
#3. The Bloodline could help Tama Tonga stand tall
The Bloodline is one of the most fierce factions in WWE. While the group has had numerous members over the past few years, the current incarnation features Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Paul Heyman.
This new version of the stable has been menacing on Friday Night SmackDown. Tama Tonga, in particular, has been terrorizing various performers. In fact, he even crashed a car into Kevin Owens' during a recent WWE SmackDown show.
When Tama Tonga clashes with Orton and Hayes, there is a very real chance that Solo Sikoa and Tonga Loa will get involved. Even if Orton and Hayes worked together to fight them off, the numbers game may be too much. Tama could hit his Flatliner finisher thanks to help from his Bloodline brethren.
#2. Carmelo Hayes could pull off a massive upset victory
Carmelo Hayes is one of the brightest young prospects in WWE. Just like RAW's Bron Breakker, Ilja Dragunov, and Lyra Valkyria along with SmackDown's Tiffany Stratton, Hayes is very likely to lead the Sports Entertainment Juggernaut into the next era.
While Hayes is a fantastic in-ring performer, his win-loss record hasn't been pretty on WWE's main roster. Hayes has lost four of the five matches he's had on SmackDown since being drafted to the brand.
As a result, many fans likely doubt that he can defeat two top names like Orton and Tonga. Thankfully, the vicious hatred between the two could allow for Carmelo to pick up a sneaky pin and leave relatively unscathed while the pair spend the entire match focusing on each other.
#1. Cody Rhodes could fight off The Bloodline and help Orton win
WWE Clash at the Castle Scotland took place just this past weekend. In the opening bout, Cody Rhodes went one-on-one with AJ Styles in an I Quit Match. The American Nightmare won, but things didn't end there.
Following his victory, the Undisputed WWE Champion was jumped by Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa. It could have gotten ugly, but thankfully, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens appeared and helped Cody fight off The Bloodline members.
If The Bloodline does try to interfere in the Triple Threat Match on SmackDown in order to help Tama Tonga advance, Cody Rhodes could make his presence felt. The World Champion could show up and fight off both Solo and Loa, which in turn could help make sure The Viper picks up a clean victory. Cody's help could be game-changing.