Jelly Roll and Randy Orton are set to form an unlikely tag team. (Credit: Craig Ambrosio/WWE Via … More
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WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2025 featured a hard-hitting battle between two of SmackDown’s biggest stars: Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre. Oh, and some noteworthy appearances from Jelly Roll and Logan Paul, too.
In front of a rabid crowd in the All State Arena in Atlanta, the recently returning McIntyre went one-on-one with “The Viper,” who recently lost the King of the Ring tournament to Cody Rhodes. McIntyre was wrestling his first major singles match after a planned brief break from WWE that really left a gaping hole on the heel side of the blue brand.
As WWE looks to establish new challengers for SmackDown’s WWE Championship, currently held by John Cena, McIntyre and Orton faced off at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event as they attempted to cement themselves as potential world title challengers.
But it was renowned rapper and singer Jelly Roll who played a major role in the outcome of the red-hot show opener in Atlanta.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2025 Results For Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
Of all the matches on the latest edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, McIntyre vs. Orton was certainly the least predictable. Heading into the bout, there was definitely a case to be made that both stars badly needed the win.
Orton, however, ultimately emerged with the massive win in Atlanta after Jelly Roll fended off interference by Paul, defeating McIntyre with an RKO to a massive pop from the Atlanta crowd. It was the second consecutive Saturday Night’s Main Event where McIntyre suffered a significant loss to one of SmackDown’s top superstars.
It was just back in May that McIntyre lost to Damian Priest in a steel cage match, putting over the former Judgment Day member before his planned hiatus. That was a sensible booking move that helped cement Priest as a borderline main event star as McIntyre got himself some much needed rest and relaxation.
But in Atlanta, WWE found itself in a booking pickle with McIntyre vs. Orton, with both stars coming off key losses in their latest high-profile matches: Orton losing to Rhodes and McIntyre losing to Priest. Thus, WWE needed to carefully craft the layout of the finish at WWE SNME to heep both stars looking strong.
That’s exactly what WWE did when Paul’s attempted interference went awry thanks to Jelly Roll. As the “Liar” singer trash talked McIntyre after laying out Paul, the distraction opened up an opportunity for Orton to hit an epic RKO out of nowhere for the win.
Cue up a SummerSlam tag team match with two of WWE’s biggest stars and two of the most recognizable names in pop culture right now.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2025 Results: What’s Next For Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre?
Given their status as two of SmackDown’s biggest stars, Orton and McIntyre both appear to be set up as potential WWE Championship challengers in the near future. But first up? SummerSlam.
Orton lost a close battle to Rhodes at Night of Champions only because he second guessed himself and decided against going for his devastating punt kick on “The American Nightmare.” That decision ultimately cost him the match, and when the bout was over, Orton’s menacing stare at Rhodes not-so-subtly hinted at a potential heel turn.
Rhodes, of course, will face John Cena at SummerSlam, and the widespread expectation is that Rhodes will win back the WWE title at that event. That could potentially set up Orton vs. Rhodes II, possibly with an Orton heel turn to get there, though it wouldn’t be surprising if WWE decided to hold off on that angle until the lead-up to WrestleMania 41 in 2026.
If Cena retains against Rhodes at SummerSlam, Orton is unlikely to emerge as a WWE title challenger given that WWE recently billed Orton vs. Cena at Backlash as “One Last Time” while WWE CCO Triple H said after the event that the bout was indeed their final match against one another. That makes McIntyre the more likely option to feud for the WWE Championship, whether it’s held by Cena or Rhodes, immediately after SummerSlam.
In early 2025, it was reported that WWE moved McIntyre to SmackDown mainly to set up a “series” of matches against Rhodes, potentially for the WWE Championship. Though Cena’s title win obviously threw a wrench into those plans, McIntyre vs. Rhodes may come to fruition, after all. Before we get there, Orton is reportedly set to team with Jelly Roll in a celebrity-filled tag team match against Logan Paul and McIntyre at SummerSlam, and the happenings in Atlanta certainly lend credence to that report.
That should be a stopgap rivalry for all stars involved, especially with Paul’s status as a part-time star. It should also lead to another singles match between Orton and McIntyre that serves as the blowoff match to their rivalry and potentially sets either star on their path to a WWE title feud.
After Jelly Roll’s big moment cost McIntyre a win at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, McIntyre is a strong candidate to challenge for the WWE Championship immediately after SummerSlam, especially with a lack of other compelling options on SmackDown.
But with their SNME segment ending with McIntyre laying out Jelly Roll with a devastating Claymore Kick, expect a heat-filled celebrity tag team match at SummerSlam to be their next stop.
