Randy Orton Lures WWE Star With Apology Before Second Attack On SmackDown

The March 20 episode of WWE SmackDown tried to bring the ’09 Randy Orton vibes back, as he showed once again that he can even fake emotions to hurt people. What started as an apology moment ended with a brutal second attack on Matt Cardona.

Earlier in the show, Orton came to the ring and spoke honestly about his career. He thanked the fans for their support, but made it clear that their love doesn’t matter to him anymore. His main goal now is winning titles.

He also mentioned Cody Rhodes, saying Rhodes pushed him to “listen to his voices” and bring his best side. Later backstage, Cardona confronted Orton about attacking Rhodes last week. Things quickly got heated, and Orton suddenly dropped him with a forearm attack and told him to stay out of his business.

Later, there was also a short backstage moment with Jelly Roll, who told Orton to fix his mistakes. Orton said, “I hear you,” which made it seem like he was thinking about it.

Randy Orton Targets Matt Cardona’s Arm in Second Attack

By the end of the show, Orton called Cardona to the ring and acted like he wanted to apologize. He came out smiling, even greeting fans, and gave a very convincing speech. He apologized to the fans and to Cardona, and even hinted that he might fix things with Rhodes next week. Cardona believed him and went in for a handshake.

That’s when Orton attacked.

He hit a low blow and followed it up with a sudden RKO. Then he kept beating Cardona, dragging him outside and slamming him onto the announce table. Officials and security rushed in to stop him.

But The Viper wasn’t done.

In his final move, Orton trapped Cardona’s arm in a chair and stomped on it. This moment showed exactly who Orton is right now- ruthless and unpredictable. His apology was never real. It was all a setup.