Randy Orton wanted a shot at the WWE Heavyweight Championship. To get there, he had to go through AJ Styles on Tuesday night. He did just that in Indianapolis, concluding the match in his typical way at the SmackDown Live main event for a shot at the title at Wrestlemania.
SmackDown Live victory
In the SmackDown Live main event on Tuesday night, Orton went toe-to-toe with AJ Styles, who many consider to be one of the best wrestlers around right now. The match wasn't originally expected to happen, but a skit at the beginning of the show led to a backstage confrontation between Styles and the WWE executives in charge of putting the match together.
He was angry at Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan, but had no choice other than to fight for the right to compete at WrestleMania.
The match itself, along with SmackDown Live in general on Tuesday, proved to be a bit disappointing. Styles started the match by immobilizing the leg of Orton, which eventually led to an exchange of signature moves. Styles eventually tricked Orton into attempting an RKO that failed. When the former tried to take advantage of the slip, however, the latter was able to land a successful RKO, ending the match and putting Orton into WrestleMania.
Highlights of the night
Another highlight of SmackDown Live was watching John Cena team up with his real-life partner, Nikki Bella.
It was the first time they had ever done that, and it proved to be a victorious move. They defeated The Miz and Maryse via submission. Afterwards, the skirmish continued outside of the ring, with The Miz publicly calling out the legitimacy of Cena and Bella's relationship.
Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin also had a backstage confrontation of their own at SmackDown Live.
Corbin hit Ambrose with an event worker and a lead pipe. In an even wilder moment, Corbin then hit Ambrose with a forklift as WWE workers ran to his aid. If WrestleMania is any bit as insane as Tuesday night was in Indianapolis, fans are going to be in for a bizarre performance.
