Cody Rhodes Just Used Randy Orton's Punt in Front of Orton — Did SmackDown Just Tease a Heel Turn?

Direct answer: On the October 16 episode of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes hit Baron Corbin with Randy Orton's signature punt kick — while Orton watched in shock from the aisle. Rhodes had first tried to punt Orton himself, and Corbin took the move instead.

That one kick is why wrestling fans have not stopped talking all day. Rhodes is the hero of this story. Orton is the mentor who has been insisting Rhodes lacks a killer instinct. And the punt is Orton's most ruthless move. When the hero borrows the villain's weapon, in front of the villain, fans are going to ask the obvious question: is Cody Rhodes turning heel?

What Happened on SmackDown

Rhodes came to the ring for a face-to-face confrontation with Orton and said he would wait in a chair until Orton appeared, according to Sports Illustrated's SmackDown results. Orton did not come out first. Baron Corbin did, interrupting the promo, calling Rhodes a whiner, and saying he would rebuild his own position at Rhodes' expense.

That interruption turned into an impromptu main event. The match itself was short — just under five minutes, 411Mania reported — before Orton finally arrived, dragged Rhodes out of the ring, and attacked him to force a disqualification. Rhodes won by DQ, but the match was never really the point. The brawl after it was.

Outside the ring, Orton tried to punt Rhodes. Rhodes escaped and answered with a Cody Cutter. Then Rhodes lined Orton up for a punt of his own — the clearest sign yet that he was willing to cross a line he had previously refused to cross. Corbin stepped in and attacked Rhodes before that kick could land, and Orton retreated up the aisle.

Rhodes redirected everything onto Corbin. He hit another Cody Cutter, lined Corbin up, and delivered the punt kick as Orton watched from the entrance area, Fightful reported. The show closed with Rhodes glaring at Orton and Orton looking stunned that Rhodes had actually done it.

Why It's Blowing Up

It is the move, not just the kick. Orton's punt has for years been presented as a step beyond winning — a deliberate attempt to punish and injure. The Chairshot's news report put it plainly: Rhodes has built his championship image on refusing shortcuts like that, so borrowing Orton's finish tells fans the rivalry has changed him, whether he admits it or not.

It pays off an earlier hesitation. Fightful noted Rhodes had previously lost a Saturday Night's Main Event match against Orton after hesitating to deliver the punt, while Orton showed no hesitation in their WrestleMania 42 match. This time there was no hesitation once Corbin was in position — and the crowd noticed, chanting for one more as the show went off the air, according to live coverage of the segment.

Orton's face sold it. The clip spreading on social media is as much about the reaction shot as the kick itself. WWE's own post summed it up: Cody just hit Corbin with the punt right in front of Orton, and that was almost Orton. Fans in the comments split instantly — some celebrating a darker, more ruthless Rhodes they have wanted for years, others arguing this was a one-night message to Orton rather than a full character change. That split is exactly what keeps a segment like this alive for days.

Key Facts

When: Friday, October 16, 2026, in the closing segment of WWE SmackDown.

Who took the punt: Baron Corbin — not Randy Orton. Rhodes tried to punt Orton first; Corbin intervened and took the move instead.

How the match ended: Rhodes beat Corbin by disqualification after Orton interfered, before the post-match brawl produced the punt.

Why it matters in the story: Orton has been claiming Rhodes lacks a killer instinct since returning and turning on his former friend. Using Orton's own signature move, in front of him, is Rhodes' most direct answer yet.

What's Next

Nothing about this segment closed the feud — it sharpened it. Orton retreated rather than taking the punt himself, Rhodes proved he will use the move, and Corbin became the example. The next step fans will be watching for is simple: when Rhodes and Orton are alone in the ring again, does Rhodes line up the punt on the man who taught it to him, and does he follow through?

Until then, the safest reading is also the most interesting one. This was not yet a confirmed heel turn. It was a hero publicly borrowing his enemy's darkest tactic and enjoying the crowd's reaction to it. Whether WWE calls that growth, revenge, or the start of a turn, SmackDown just gave the Rhodes-Orton rivalry its most replayed moment — and it took one kick aimed at somebody else to do it.

FAQ

Did Cody Rhodes turn heel on SmackDown?
Not officially. Rhodes used Randy Orton's punt kick, a heel-associated move, but he used it on Baron Corbin during a feud with the villainous Orton — fans are debating whether it was a tease of a turn or a one-off message.

Who did Cody Rhodes punt?
Baron Corbin. Rhodes first lined up Randy Orton for the punt, Corbin attacked him to stop it, and Rhodes then hit Corbin with a Cody Cutter and the punt instead.

Why is Randy Orton's punt such a big deal?
The punt is Orton's signature ruthless move, long presented as an attempt to injure rather than simply win. Rhodes using it signals he is willing to cross lines he previously refused to cross in this rivalry.

How did the Cody Rhodes vs. Baron Corbin match end?
Rhodes won by disqualification after Randy Orton interfered and attacked him. The punt happened in the brawl after the match, as the show was closing.

Sources: Sports Illustrated, Fightful, 411Mania and The Chairshot coverage of the October 16, 2026 SmackDown, linked above.