After nearly three months away from a WWE ring and his home of WWE SmackDown, a legend has returned on the January 2, 2026, edition of Friday Night Fight Night, with the “Viper” Randy Orton making his much-awaited return. To kick off the first three-hour SmackDown of 2026, The Miz would air out his grievances, calling out people like John Cena, Carmelo Hayes, Joe Hendry, and even movie star Timothee Chalamet.
Miz christened himself as the “only adult in a room full of children,” also effectively declaring himself as the “new face of WWE,” due to the retirement of John Cena, and the self-appointed locker room leader of SmackDown, as he ran down his illustrious resume in front of a heated Buffalo, New York crowd.
The “Apex Predator” Randy Orton’s music would hit, as Miz quickly backtracked, saying they are the locker room leaders and faces of WWE, and they could be a team called “Miz-KO.” With an amused look on his face, Orton would try to say something, but instead, he ended up hitting The Miz with a devastating RKO. Egged on by the crowd, Orton would deliver one more for the road, hitting Miz with another RKO.
Backstage, Randy Orton would get in touch with Undisputed WWE Champion, stating that once he beats Drew McIntyre in Berlin next week, he’s gunning for the title.
WWE Universe, no one is safe as the biggest dog in the yard is back for 2026, and he looks like he’s on a mission. Welcome back to WWE SmackDown, Randy Orton!
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