As soon as Cody Rhodes made his triumphant return to WWE in 2022, we all knew this day would come. Now, over three years and a handful of tag team matches later, WWE has finally set the stage for Rhodes and Randy Orton to go one-one-one for the first time in 12 years at this Saturday’s King of the Ring finals. On the line, a chance to challenge John Cena or Gunther for a WWE world championship, and with it, the opportunity to further extend one man’s legacy.
The Rise of a Second/Third Generation
In September 2008, following his return from injury and unsuccessful attempts to recapture the world title he lost months prior, Randy Orton took a mic and degraded all of WWE’s champions. That included a 22-year-old Cody Rhodes and 25-year-old Ted DiBiase Jr. Orton himself was 28 at the time, in the midst of the peak of his career. Orton chastised Rhodes and DiBiase for allowing Cryme Tyme to steal their belts so the two young stars took it upon themselves to seek out Orton’s respect. They attacked Cryme Tyme and added Manu, son of Afa to their ranks. When that didn’t move the needle and impress Orton, the new trio helped the former world champ attack CM Punk. At the time, Orton was still not medically cleared for ring action however as that wouldn’t come for another few months. In November, when he was able to wrestle, Orton was booked in a match against Punk where DiBiase’s interference led to a Punk victory. Orton quite literally kicked DiBiase out of his growing stable, a move that was designed to support DiBiase leaving to film The Marine 2.
When DiBiase returned to WWE a few months later, Legacy was in shambles. Manu and Sim Snuka were being ousted and planned to attack and ambush Orton on their way out. However it was the returning DiBiase who turned the tables, siding with Orton and Rhodes and formally uniting the Legacy as we know it today in WWE.
With Rhodes and DiBiase by his side, Orton was more emboldened than ever as he entered into a blood feud with the entire McMahon family. Orton first targeted Vince McMahon before he entered the WWE Royal Rumble, ultimately winning thanks to the help of Legacy. Following his rumble win, the first of his career, Orton put his focus on the rest of the family, punting Shane McMahon and attacking Stephanie McMahon, forcing Triple H to watch. Orton then turned his attention back to his old friend and mentor by opting to go after Triple H’s world title thanks to some goading on the champ’s part. It was through this angle that Orton revealed he went after the McMahons as revenge for how he was treated when Triple H ousted him from Evolution years prior. Orton was still incredibly bitter and as a result, his title match with Triple H at WrestleMania would allow the title to change hands as a result of a disqualification or count out. After a brutal fight, Triple H emerged victorious thanks to a well-timed sledgehammer shot.
Orton continued to feud with the McMahons and his old Evolution stablemates, Triple H and Batista, in the coming months. In April, Legacy defeated Triple H, Shane McMahon, and Batista, with Triple H’s WWE title on the line. For the first time since Legacy’s creation, Orton was world champion. That meant Legacy took on a new role: help Orton retain the title at all costs. For months, DiBiase and Rhodes were successful in this endeavor, interfering in Orton’s title matches, and preventing challengers. But as Orton’s influence grew, the WWE locker room began to make it harder for Legacy to interfere. As a result, Orton traded the world title with Cena, holding the belt from June – September and October of 2009.
All the while, Legacy began to show signs of cracking, most notably following Orton’s title match at WWE Royal Rumble 2010. Orton failed to regain the world championship from Sheamus as Rhodes was caught trying to interfere, resulting in a DQ. Following the match, Orton attacked Rhodes and DiBiase, who had tried to help his partner. Orton would lose another match to Sheamus in the following weeks thanks to Rhodes and DiBiase interfering. Everything came to a head during the Elimination Chamber as Rhodes helped DiBiase eliminate Orton thanks to a lead pipe. Legacy was granted a six-man tag match the next night on WWE Raw but instead of showing unity, Orton attacked his proteges. The following week, Rhodes and DiBiase attacked Orton. This led to Rhodes and DiBiase defeating Orton in a two-on-one handicap match followed by a triple threat at WrestleMania XXVI. Orton won by pinning DiBiase and punting Rhodes, but during the match Rhodes and DiBiase turned on each other, dissolving their alliance. Rhodes was subsequently moved to WWE SmackDown, officially ending Legacy.
Rhodes and Orton would feud in the latter half of 2011, trading wins back and forth. They’d largely go their separate ways after that.
The Time is Right for Orton, Rhodes to Redefine their WWE Legacy
Credit: WWE
The last time Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes shared a ring as opponents was on May 26, 2014. That was 11 years ago. Rhodes was 28 years old, just shy of embarking on his fifth WWE tag team championship reign and just two years removed from leaving the company entirely. Rhodes was a two-time Intercontinental champion at the time, but far removed from the star he is today. To put it simply, he was the role player, not yet the star quarterback. Orton on the other hand was one of WWE’s top stars. He was 34, well in his prime, and just a few months removed from losing his 12th world title. Their final singles match, which took place in September 2013, was certainly a case of the haves vs have nots. The match had a stipulation: Rhodes’ career was on the line. Orton was victorious. Of course in storyline, Rhodes wouldn’t leave the company until 2016, but his “career-ending” match did unofficially mark the end of Rhodes’s WWE career while marking the beginning of Stardust.
That was then and this is now. In the post-Backlash press conference last year, Rhodes was asked about future opponents and he was quick to mention Orton as someone he wanted to get back in the ring with one-on-one, noting, “I know ten years ago, Randy could wipe the floor with me. But I wonder what it looks like today.”
That day will be June 28, 2025, King of the Ring at Night of Champions. Rhodes is now 39, at the pinnacle of his career. He’s just a few months removed from his first reign as WWE world champion. He’s one of WWE’s top superstars, the quarterback of the team. His 378-day title reign is longer than any of Orton’s 14. And Orton, he’s now 45. His last championship reign came two years prior to Rhodes’ WWE return. Injuries have plagued him of late, forcing one of WWE’s star players and most beloved superstars to be put on the back burner. This Orton probably can’t “wipe the floor” with his protege. Not this time.
Now closer to his final chapter than his first, this Orton is Rhodes’ friend, mentor, supporter. He has had Rhodes’ back at every opportunity, helping his mentee on his journey to the upper echelon. The two have unceasingly praised each other as Rhodes has gotten emotional talking about Orton’s role in his career, even going so far as to say to his friend, “You are 100-percent nothing would have happened without you just… whether you wanted to, whether you cared to do it or not, you took this chance on me.” Orton too, has been complimentary, celebrating Rhodes for taking his own path and completely changing the wrestling industry as a result of it. Orton has been a part of Rhodes’ journey since almost day one, always believing in him, supporting him, and being among the first to know that there was something special there. But… he’s still Randy Orton, WWE’s Apex Predator and Legend Killer. He almost recently punted Kevin Owens bringing back a lethal move not seen in years. He teased going after Rhodes when he was still champion, though he did promise to stab him in the front not the back (that’s called emotional growth, people).
And now, the moment has finally come at King of the Ring. Rhodes is no longer champion and it’s Orton who is most recently coming off a title opportunity. Both of these men though, want that gold back around their waist. And it seems likely that both will do whatever it takes to get another championship match, likely against their shared rival, John Cena.
The King of the Ring semifinals saw four babyfaces go head-to-head including two who are former partners and friends. It’s felt almost too clean, too obvious. The finals could be the perfect stage for that to change. Is it possible Orton would turn on Rhodes just to get another chance to put No. 15 around his waist? Or might it be Rhodes to turn on Orton this time around? Either way, it seems unlikely this contest ends with the two men shaking hands and raising each other’s hands like Rhodes’ did with Jey Uso. And if that happens, if either man turns on Saturday, the much anticipated feud between Orton and Rhodes to follow (their first since Rhodes’ return to WWE), will have been well worth the 12 year wait.
King of the Ring won’t be for a title, but it will be legacy-defining nonetheless.
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