King of the Ring heats up as Randy Orton books semifinal spot
Image via WWE
WWE veteran
Randy Orton
made a thunderous return to Friday Night SmackDown this week, marking his first appearance since his loss to
John Cena
at Backlash. And in classic Orton fashion, he made an immediate impact - both in the ring and in the King of the Ring tournament.
The Viper strikes again
The Viper was slotted into a high-stakes Fatal 4-Way match alongside LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes, and Aleister Black. With a semifinal spot on the line and a potential title shot at SummerSlam hanging in the balance, Orton entered with fierce intent. His path, however, wasn't entirely smooth.
Randy Orton advances in King of the Ring Tournament: SmackDown highlights, June 13, 2025
During the chaotic bout, interference from WWE Raw stars Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker tipped the scales. Reed shoved LA Knight off the top rope, allowing Breakker to deliver a brutal spear.
Seizing the opportunity, Orton caught Carmelo Hayes mid-air with a vintage RKO before pinning Knight for the win.
With this victory, Randy Orton moves on to face Sami Zayn in the semifinals of the King of the Ring tournament. The winner of the prestigious bracket will receive a world title opportunity at SummerSlam, setting up a possible rematch between Orton and his longtime rival, John Cena - provided Cena retains against CM Punk at Night of Champions.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah?
IC Markets
Mendaftar
Undo
Sparks fly between Randy Orton and John Cena
Interestingly, Orton's return was not just confined to in-ring action. Before the match, he had a brief but tense moment with Cena during a segment also involving Cody Rhodes and LA Knight. While Cena eventually walked away, the tension between the two legends was hard to miss - and perhaps a sign of things to come.
FULL SEGMENT: Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and LA Knight call out John Cena: SmackDown, June 13, 2025
Fans have been vocal online, with many divided over LA Knight's early exit. Comments under WWE's announcement of Orton's victory ranged from frustration over Knight's loss to support for Orton's comeback story.
One fan posted, 'Randy will go all the way! He will win this year!' while another noted, 'Orton vs Sami will be gold.'
Orton, a multiple-time world champion, has shown no signs of slowing down despite the recent setback at Backlash. If he manages to win the King of the Ring, it could set up one of WWE's most anticipated summer clashes.
With storylines heating up and the King of the Ring tournament nearing its climax, all eyes are now on SmackDown's next chapter - and whether Orton's resurgence leads him back to the very top.
Also Read:
Ron Killings vs. John Cena heats up again - What's next for this WWE rivalry?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Taylor Swift in charge of Travis Kelce romance — expert says she's the one holding it all together
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were seen cozying up to each other at a Tight End University (TEU) event in Nashville as clips of then shaking a leg at the dance floor went viral People noticed that their romance seemed really strong at the event. According to a body language expert named Judi James, Taylor seems to be the one 'in charge' in their relationship. Judi James looked at their body language in both red carpet photos and dance videos, according to the report by Daily Mail. Taylor is doing most of the work She said Taylor is doing most of the emotional work in the relationship. She called it 'doing the heavy lifting.' The expert explained that Taylor seems more sure and focused about the relationship than Travis. James pointed out that Taylor and Travis were performing a kind of 'exclusivity ritual', meaning they only had eyes for each other, as per the report by Reality Tea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Viewers Had To Look Away When This Happened On Live Show. Vetob Read Now Undo ASLO READ: Poll twist: Kamala Harris trails in 2028 race, but frontrunner fails with black voters - who is the person? Taylor leads the romance publicly Even though Travis is getting more comfortable showing love publicly, Taylor is still leading the way. Live Events On the red carpet, Taylor showed signs of 'loving surrender' and deep trust in Travis. While dancing, Taylor made sure to get Travis's full attention, showing she's the one guiding their public romance. James said it's actually a good thing that Taylor is in charge of how they show love to the public. Travis seemed a bit shy or reserved, but he looked happy to let Taylor lead. The couple was also seen dancing to Taylor's old song 'Love Story' from 2008, according to the report Reality Tea. Fans went crazy after seeing all the romantic dancing and closeness. Their sweet moments made fans think they could be getting engaged or even married soon. FAQs Q1. Is Taylor Swift leading her relationship with Travis Kelce? Yes, an expert says Taylor is more in charge and shows more affection in public. Q2. Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting engaged? Fans think so after seeing their sweet dance moments, but nothing is confirmed.
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who might be the next James Bond? Jacob Elordi and Tom Holland potentially in the race with others
Makers of the upcoming James Bond movie are searching for a British actor under 30 to bring new energy to the iconic character. Now that studios have confirmed that Denis Villeneuve , who starred in 'Dune,' will direct the upcoming James Bond movie, the big question is still: Who will play the title role? The studio is now seeking the perfect screenwriter, and, of course, the cast of the new James Bond movie, which will be the 26th film in the franchise, following Daniel Craig's 'No Time to Die. ' According to the reports in Variety, the makers want to cast a younger actor in the iconic role of the famous spy, James Bond. To add fresh energy to the part, they have been looking for a British actor under thirty. They are looking for someone who will continue the tradition of the classic spy movies. There are currently three names at the top of that list. The first is Jacob Elordi, the towering, powerful actor who is featured in Saltburn, Priscilla, Kissing Booth, and Euphoria. Despite being Australian, his fame and outstanding acting skills may work in his favor. Tom Holland, known for his portrayal of Spider-Man, is the next person on the list. Harris Dickinson, a rising talent who gained popularity for his performance in Babygirl, which starred Nicole Kidman, is the third and last name on the list. Famous names like Henry Cavill, Idris Alba and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have also been suggested as the fan-favourites, but due to their ages being well over 30, they might not be the fit for the criteria the studios are looking for. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Earlier on 25th June, the studios confirmed the news that they have brought in Oscar-nominated director Denis for the new James Bond film to the public through an official statement. The 57-year-old Canadian filmmaker, in the statement, expressed his excitement, saying, 'This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour. Amy, David, and I are thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust." Tanya Lapointe, Denis' wife, has also been taken on as an executive producer by the studio. The movie will be produced by David Heyman and Amy Pascal in the meantime. The highly anticipated latest James Bond movie will be released in 2028.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Raghava Lawrence tells actor S J Suryah: I know your biggest dream is to become a lead actor!
Congratulating actor and director S J Suryah, who has made a return to direction after almost a decade with his next film, 'Killer', actor, director and producer Raghava Lawrence on Saturday told the gifted director and actor that he knew that his biggest dream was to become a lead actor more than becoming a director. Interestingly, S J Suryah is not only directing 'Killer', he is also playing the lead in it. Taking to his X timeline to congratulate actor and director S J Suryah with whom he worked on Karthik Subbaraj 's Jigarthanda Double X, Raghava Lawrence wrote, " Brother @iam_SJSuryah, Congratulations on your next directorial #KILLER. More than a director, I know your biggest dream is to become a lead actor. May this Killer movie give you the biggest success as a Hero. I pray Raghavendra Swamy for all your dreams to come true! My best wishes to the whole team!" Multi-talented superstar SJ Surya is all set to make a comeback as a director after a gap of 10 years. S J Suryah will be both acting and directing the huge pan-India film called Killer, the story, screenplay and dialogues of which he penned himself. The film is being jointly produced by the renowned production house Sri Gokulam Movies (led by Gokulam Gopalan) and SJ Surya's own production house Angel Studios. Gokulam Movies, which has produced successful films in Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and other languages, is making a comeback in the Tamil film industry with this film. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The film is co-produced by V.C. Praveen and Baiju Gopalan, and Krishnamurthy is the executive producer. SJ Surya, who has directed classic hits like 'Vaali', 'Khushi' and 'New', is bringing a star-studded cast for this film. Produced on a huge budget, the film will be released in five languages. Why Rajinikanth inspires generations of actors? "We are moving forward with the determination to deliver a film that will impress audiences across the country through Killer. With the participation of talented actors and technicians from across the country, we are going to make a film that will remain in the hearts of the audience," the producers said. "Our aim with 'Killer' is to deliver a truly pan-Indian cinematic experience," the makers said and added, "We are bringing together some of the finest talents from across Indian cinema, both in front of and behind the camera, to ensure a film that resonates with audiences nationwide."
