Rewriting His Legacy at WrestleMania
Photo Credit: WWE
If WWE doesn’t opt to pull the trigger on the more aggressive and entitled Cody Rhodes that fans first got a glimpse of this summer and again during his feud with Drew McIntyre, then Randy Orton is going to have to do some heavy-lifting for this WrestleMania build. Orton and Rhodes have all the history in the world, and in a way, mirror the storyline Raw has going on with CM Punk and Roman Reigns. Much as Punk brought Reigns into WWE with the Shield, Orton brought Rhodes to stardom with Legacy. However, with Punk and Reigns, the two hate each other, and while both are seemingly being presented as babyfaces (though Punk’s actions on Raw put that in some doubt), it is that mutual hatred that is driving the heat of the storyline. With Rhodes/Orton, the last time they met, all we saw was mutual respect. While that worked for King of the Ring, it’s hard to imagine it will be as successful this time around, given all that is at stake.
During the Legacy years, on-screen, Orton was often portrayed as indifferent to Rhodes, only using him and Ted DiBiase Jr. as a means to retain his world title, but off-screen, Rhodes and Orton enjoyed real mentorship and friendship. On more than one occasion, the two have gushed over what the other means to them and their careers. That’s why Cody Rhodes needs to rip the proverbial band-aid off, as the student has finally become the teacher.
Rhodes has not surpassed everything Orton has done in his career, not by a long shot. But you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks Orton has had a better last four years than his former protege. In large part, Orton has been a background character to Rhodes’ protagonist. He’s been part of the saga, but moreso as a sidekick, helping Rhodes fight off common enemies and having his back along the way. With Orton’s Elimination Chamber win, however, he’s ready to step back into the main event and back to being the main character in his own story. Now, only Rhodes stands in his way. Orton has made no secret that he’d drop Rhodes if it meant getting a shot at his 15th world title, and sure enough, he did just that, taking out Rhodes last with an RKO to win the Elimination Chamber.
Setting the Scene for a Heel Turn
It seemed Randy Orton was on a collision course with Drew McIntyre, but that all changed on Friday night when Cody Rhodes, despite not winning the Elimination Chamber or the Royal Rumble, got a shot at the champ anyway due to all of McIntyre’s recent machinations to prevent Rhodes from winning those two events. Thanks to interference from Jacob Fatu, who figures to factor into this story going forward in some capacity, Rhodes was victorious in claiming his third world title. For those doing the math, that’s three more than Orton has won in the last six years.
Cody Rhodes has every right to enter this meeting with his former rival and current friend with a bit of smugness. He’s been the one carrying the company for four years, not Orton. He’s been the one at the top of the industry, not Orton. And if WWE wants to save Rhodes from a 2015 Reigns era fate, that is exactly the tactic they’ll take. Whether it means turning Rhodes prior to WrestleMania or saving the big moment for the event itself. There, it would feel simply poetic. Rhodes made his return to WWE at WrestleMania, won (and lost) his first world title at WrestleMania, and now, could begin his next chapter, turning heel on his top ally, at WrestleMania.
See you next week in Phoenix, @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/FSSX2rXGeE
— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) March 7, 2026
If that happens, fans will boo Rhodes, but this time, for the right reasons.
