A major bout between Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre could be a last-minute addition to this Sunday’s WWE Clash in Paris. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, there is a “solid chance” the match will be added to the lineup. Meltzer noted that while the addition is not yet confirmed, it has been a significant topic of discussion internally.
The planning for this matchup appears strategic, regardless of its placement on this weekend’s card. Meltzer also stated that WWE intends to have the Orton vs. McIntyre match before moving forward with McIntyre’s eventual challenge for Cody Rhodes’ WWE Championship. “They’re going to do the Orton match before they do the Cody match,” Meltzer clarified.
This potential confrontation stems directly from recent events on SmackDown. Last week, Orton delivered a surprise RKO to McIntyre after the latter had been mocking the injured Cody Rhodes. McIntyre is responsible for putting Rhodes out of action as part of his campaign for the WWE title.
If added, Orton versus McIntyre would become the sixth match on the card for the premium live event taking place this Sunday, August 31. The currently confirmed lineup is:
- John Cena vs. Logan Paul
- Fatal Four-Way for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. CM Punk vs. LA Knight vs. Jey Uso
- Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Nikki Bella
- Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook Match: Sheamus vs. Rusev