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More than 15 years of WWE history come to a head as Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes are set to collide in the Night One main event of WrestleMania in Las Vegas.
Randy Orton punched his ticket to a title opportunity after winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Chicago back in February, originally lining him up for a showdown with then-champion Drew McIntyre.
However, a creative shift quickly altered the landscape after an episode of Friday Night SmackDown saw McIntyre drop the title to Cody Rhodes, reshaping the championship picture and setting up a match with illustrious history between Orton and Rhodes.
MORE: WrestleMania 42 match card revealed, full list of Night 1 & 2 fights
While the recent addition of Pat McAfee to the storyline has drawn mixed reactions from fans, the core of this feud remains undeniable. Orton and Rhodes bring a layered, deeply personal history to the grandest stage of all.
Dating back to late 2008, during Randy Orton’s heated rivalry with then-World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, the “Legend Killer” began searching for emerging talent to build a faction of his own, much like the iconic group he once rose through in Evolution alongside Triple H, Ric Flair, and Batista.
That vision soon came to life as a young Cody Rhodes aligned with Ted DiBiase Jr. under Orton’s guidance, forming Legacy.
The faction quickly became a launching pad for both rising stars, with Rhodes and DiBiase capturing the WWE Tag Team Championships for a second time while Orton remained in pursuit of the company’s top titles.
After almost a year and a half of running rampant on the WWE, the group began to fizzle out, and by the beginning of 2010, the cracks were apparent for the fans to see.
That momentum culminated in a triple threat showdown between all three members at WrestleMania 26, where Orton emerged victorious.
Still, the moment served as a pivotal launching point for Cody Rhodes, signaling the beginning of his push to carve out his own identity in WWE.
MORE: CM Punk rips Pat McAfee, WrestleMania 42 ticket prices in WWE Raw pipebomb
As many fans remember, Cody Rhodes’ first run as a singles competitor didn’t quite unfold the way he had envisioned.
That setback ultimately pushed the second-generation star to step away from the spotlight and hit the independent circuit in 2016, determined to reshape his career on his own terms.
The journey wasn’t immediate, but through standout performances overseas and a notable stint with Impact Wrestling, the son of Dusty Rhodes steadily rebuilt his reputation.
By the time 2018 arrived, Cody Rhodes had transformed himself into one of the most recognizable and respected names in professional wrestling, firmly establishing his place as a household name for fans.
Meanwhile, Orton, already cemented as one of WWE’s premier stars, remained firmly in the championship picture, consistently playing a central role in the company’s biggest storylines.
He continued to headline rivalries against the likes of Triple H, John Cena, and other top-tier talent, further solidifying his career as one of the era’s defining performers.
Even as a top star, as the years went on, the physical toll of a grueling career began to catch up, with injuries gradually affecting both his in-ring workload and overall performance.
Following a complete career resurgence, Cody Rhodes made his highly anticipated return at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
That return ignited a two-year pursuit of Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Championship, a journey fueled by legacy, redemption, and unfinished business.
The pursuit finally reached its climax at WrestleMania XL, where Rhodes defeated Reigns to capture the title, closing the chapter on one of WWE’s most layered and emotionally charged rivalries in recent memory.
As the celebration unfolded, with fellow superstars and members of the Rhodes family filling the ring, one presence stood out above the rest: his former mentor, Randy Orton.
Throughout Rhodes’ championship reign, their paths crossed on multiple occasions, teasing a deeper story, but the two had yet to meet in a true one-on-one showdown.
MORE: WWE legend John Cena reveals notable role for WrestleMania 42
With WWE continuing to tease a long-awaited clash between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, anticipation quickly built among fans, turning the potential matchup into a major social media talking point.
That momentum only grew at Elimination Chamber, where Orton secured his WrestleMania opportunity and made a statement in the process by pinning Rhodes, aided by interference from Drew McIntyre.
The fallout from that moment proved to be pivotal. McIntyre’s involvement would ultimately backfire, costing him his own championship and setting the stage for a fight between Orton and Rhodes.
The tension reached a boiling point during their contract signing, when Orton fully embraced the “voices in his head” once again, shocking fans by turning heel and attacking Rhodes to ignite the feud officially.
Now, as we fast forward to WrestleMania, both Orton and Rhodes are ready to settle the score once and for all in front of the thousands in attendance and millions watching around the world.
Continue reading...
Randy Orton punched his ticket to a title opportunity after winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Chicago back in February, originally lining him up for a showdown with then-champion Drew McIntyre.
However, a creative shift quickly altered the landscape after an episode of Friday Night SmackDown saw McIntyre drop the title to Cody Rhodes, reshaping the championship picture and setting up a match with illustrious history between Orton and Rhodes.
MORE: WrestleMania 42 match card revealed, full list of Night 1 & 2 fights
While the recent addition of Pat McAfee to the storyline has drawn mixed reactions from fans, the core of this feud remains undeniable. Orton and Rhodes bring a layered, deeply personal history to the grandest stage of all.
Forming Legacy
Dating back to late 2008, during Randy Orton’s heated rivalry with then-World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, the “Legend Killer” began searching for emerging talent to build a faction of his own, much like the iconic group he once rose through in Evolution alongside Triple H, Ric Flair, and Batista.
That vision soon came to life as a young Cody Rhodes aligned with Ted DiBiase Jr. under Orton’s guidance, forming Legacy.
The faction quickly became a launching pad for both rising stars, with Rhodes and DiBiase capturing the WWE Tag Team Championships for a second time while Orton remained in pursuit of the company’s top titles.
After almost a year and a half of running rampant on the WWE, the group began to fizzle out, and by the beginning of 2010, the cracks were apparent for the fans to see.
That momentum culminated in a triple threat showdown between all three members at WrestleMania 26, where Orton emerged victorious.
Still, the moment served as a pivotal launching point for Cody Rhodes, signaling the beginning of his push to carve out his own identity in WWE.
MORE: CM Punk rips Pat McAfee, WrestleMania 42 ticket prices in WWE Raw pipebomb
Gap years
As many fans remember, Cody Rhodes’ first run as a singles competitor didn’t quite unfold the way he had envisioned.
That setback ultimately pushed the second-generation star to step away from the spotlight and hit the independent circuit in 2016, determined to reshape his career on his own terms.
The journey wasn’t immediate, but through standout performances overseas and a notable stint with Impact Wrestling, the son of Dusty Rhodes steadily rebuilt his reputation.
By the time 2018 arrived, Cody Rhodes had transformed himself into one of the most recognizable and respected names in professional wrestling, firmly establishing his place as a household name for fans.
Meanwhile, Orton, already cemented as one of WWE’s premier stars, remained firmly in the championship picture, consistently playing a central role in the company’s biggest storylines.
He continued to headline rivalries against the likes of Triple H, John Cena, and other top-tier talent, further solidifying his career as one of the era’s defining performers.
Even as a top star, as the years went on, the physical toll of a grueling career began to catch up, with injuries gradually affecting both his in-ring workload and overall performance.
Cody’s return
Following a complete career resurgence, Cody Rhodes made his highly anticipated return at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
That return ignited a two-year pursuit of Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Championship, a journey fueled by legacy, redemption, and unfinished business.
The pursuit finally reached its climax at WrestleMania XL, where Rhodes defeated Reigns to capture the title, closing the chapter on one of WWE’s most layered and emotionally charged rivalries in recent memory.
As the celebration unfolded, with fellow superstars and members of the Rhodes family filling the ring, one presence stood out above the rest: his former mentor, Randy Orton.
Throughout Rhodes’ championship reign, their paths crossed on multiple occasions, teasing a deeper story, but the two had yet to meet in a true one-on-one showdown.
MORE: WWE legend John Cena reveals notable role for WrestleMania 42
WrestleMania match
With WWE continuing to tease a long-awaited clash between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, anticipation quickly built among fans, turning the potential matchup into a major social media talking point.
That momentum only grew at Elimination Chamber, where Orton secured his WrestleMania opportunity and made a statement in the process by pinning Rhodes, aided by interference from Drew McIntyre.
The fallout from that moment proved to be pivotal. McIntyre’s involvement would ultimately backfire, costing him his own championship and setting the stage for a fight between Orton and Rhodes.
The tension reached a boiling point during their contract signing, when Orton fully embraced the “voices in his head” once again, shocking fans by turning heel and attacking Rhodes to ignite the feud officially.
Now, as we fast forward to WrestleMania, both Orton and Rhodes are ready to settle the score once and for all in front of the thousands in attendance and millions watching around the world.
Continue reading...
