WWE SmackDown Grades: The King Of Strong Style Sends A Message
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2. Shelton Benjamin vs. Randy Orton
The arrival of new United States Champion Jeff Hardy has added a lot to Tuesday nights already. And last night saw Hardy get a taste of his own medicine from the previous week courtesy of The Viper, whose sights are set on regaining the U.S. Championship.
On the previous week’s edition of SmackDown, it was set to be Randy Orton vs. Shelton Benjamin, but instead, Hardy came out and took Orton’s place in the match. Orton took the same approach last night when Hardy was set for a rematch against Benjamin, but The Viper came out and took Hardy’s place in the match.
Hardy instead watched the match from ringside and the two veterans put on a pretty solid match. Most believed Orton would get the win, but thanks to an interfering Sunil Singh, who decided to go after Hardy’s injured leg prior to his rematch with Jinder Mahal for the U.S. Championship, Benjamin would end up getting the upset win.
Singh caught Orton off guard enough for Benjamin to get the big win. It seems likely Hardy will keep the U.S. Championship when he goes up against Raw’s Mahal at the Greatest Royal Rumble event, but The Charismatic Enigma could have two serious challengers moving forward in Orton and Benjamin.
Orton vs. Benjamin last night was a pretty solid match despite the outside shenanigans and the U.S. Championship scene likely improved at the same time.