WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Randy Orton lays out Drew McIntyre during confrontation with Cody Rhodes

The future of the undisputed WWE championship is starting to take shape as John Cena's time winds down

With John Cena's retirement quickly approaching, WWE used Friday night's episode of SmackDown to begin preparing conflicts for the future of the undisputed WWE championship.

Cody Rhodes appeared on the show, fresh off his King of the Ring tournament win, to talk about his coming SummerSlam match with Cena. This drew out not only Randy Orton, but a shocking return from Drew McIntyre. The conflict between the three escallated until Orton dropped McIntyre with an RKO.

The situation also led to SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis setting up a match between Orton and McIntyre for Saturday Night's Main Event next week.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Drew McIntyre returns, only to be put down by Randy Orton

Cody Rhodes opened the show ready to cut a promo after winning the King of the Ring tournament. He was quickly cut off by the man he defeated to win the crown, Randy Orton. After Orton praised Rhodes for not hesitating to pull the trigger in their match, Rhodes promised to go on to SummerSlam and defeat John Cena.

This led to Drew McIntyre returning from injury, with McIntyre saying Orton and Rhodes had "beta male energy" but not to worry because the alpha male is back. McIntyre also accused Rhodes of stabbing Orton in the back -- specifically because Rhodes went after Orton's surgically repaired back during the match. As McIntyre said he wanted Rhodes to go ahead and beat Cena because McIntyre wants to take the title from Rhodes, Orton exploded with an RKO to put McIntyre down. Shortly thereafter, McIntyre demanded that Nick Aldis give him another match with Orton, which Aldis granted for Saturday Night's Main Event.

Friday was largely a filler episode of SmackDown, which was a sensible choice for a pre-taped show airing on a holiday. McIntyre vs. Orton should be a fine match at SNME, but the real meat here is the way WWE appears to be building a future for SmackDown and the undisputed WWE championship once Cena loses the belt and walks away for good. There wasn't a lot of meat here, but building for the future makes sense. Grade: C+

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Cody Rhodes promised Randy Orton he'd beat John Cena at SummerSlam. Drew McIntyre interrupted the pair, returning from hiatus, and ate an RKO for it. 
• SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis booked Orton vs. McIntyre for Saturday Night's Main Event.
• Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair def. The Secret Hervice (Alba Fyre & Piper Niven) and B-Fab & Michin via pinfall after Bliss hit Twisted Bliss on Fyre. With the win, Bliss and Flair qualified for the fatal four-way WWE tag team women's title match at Evolution.
• The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan & Joe Gacy) def. Berto, Chris Sabin, Johnny Gargano and Montez Ford via pinfall after Rowan hit Sabin with an Iron Claw Slam. Nick Aldis made the match earlier in the show, telling Berto, Sabin, Gargano and Ford's teams they would each send one man in to team up and face the Wyatts, with an understanding the Wyatts were moving closer to the tag team titles.
• Trish Stratus accepted Tiffany Stratton's challenge to a WWE women's title match at Evolution. Stratton said she was looking forward to facing Jade Cargill at SummerSlam, but also wanted to defend her title at Evolution, calling out Stratus, who was happy to accept the opportunity.
• Andrade & Rey Fenix def. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) via pinfall.
• Damian Priest and Aleister Black got into a heated argument with a confirmation that Black and Ron Killings would face off next week.
• Jacob Fatu & Jimmy Uso def. Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo via pinfall after a Fatu moonsault on Sikoa. At the start of the show, Aldis told Fatu to find a tag partner, only for Uso to step in and say he'd be the man for the job. Sikoa later introduced Tala Tonga (formerly Hikuleo) as the newest member of his bloodline. Post-match, Tala Tonga and Tonga Loa laid out Sikoa's rivals.