Cody Rhodes Pushed for WrestleMania Match Against Randy Orton

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Cody Rhodes, the current Undisputed WWE Champion, reportedly pushed for a WrestleMania 42 match against his former mentor Randy Orton. According to a new report, Rhodes had known for weeks that Orton would be his opponent at the upcoming pay-per-view event, as he believed the matchup would deliver a premium-caliber contest.

Why it matters

The dynamic between the established veteran Orton and the rising second-generation star Rhodes carries historical weight within the industry. Years ago, Orton served as a mentor figure for Rhodes during their time together in the Legacy faction, providing Rhodes with some of his earliest television exposure. Now, the roles are reversed, with Rhodes standing as the face of the company and Orton acting as the seasoned challenger.

The details

According to the report, Rhodes actively supported the idea of the matchup because he believed it would deliver a high-quality match. The timeline suggests that the creative pivot was planned well in advance of the recent television developments, with Rhodes knowing about the match as early as February. The title change that saw Rhodes regain the Undisputed WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre on the March 6 episode of Friday Night SmackDown generated some backlash online, but the company's direction remains unchanged, with Rhodes set to defend the gold against Orton in Las Vegas.

• In February, Cody Rhodes knew he would be facing Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42.
• On March 6, Cody Rhodes regained the Undisputed WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre on Friday Night SmackDown.

What’s next

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