WWE Smackdown results [May 18,2012]

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus def. Randy Orton

(WATCH | PHOTOS)
A tweet by John Laurinaitis’ Executive Administrator Eve on Monday called for a SmackDown showdown between World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and Randy Orton – just two days before The Great White and The Viper will face Chris Jericho and Alberto Del Rio in a Fatal 4-Way World Title Match. (MATCH PREVIEW)

In the fierce contest that followed, The Viper punished The Great White’s already injured shoulder, mounting a strategy that mirrored Alberto Del Rio’s plan of action during his match against Orton last week on SmackDown. Sheamus fought his way through the pain, as both intense grapplers kicked out of several pin attempts – leaving the WWE Universe to wonder just what it would take for either competitor to achieve victory, both in Friday’s main event and this Sunday.

In the end, when WWE’s Apex Predator attempted the RKO, The Celtic Warrior countered, wrapping up Orton for the quick win.

Then, displaying a "you got me" attitude after the bell and shaking his opponent’s hand, the cunning Viper struck without warning, hitting a post-match RKO on the World Heavyweight Champion. With his eyes — and his hands — on Sheamus’ title, Orton sent a strong signal that the WWE Over the Limit World Title Match may indeed prove to be a different story.