WWE Sets Up Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton for WrestleMania Title Match

The chaotic booking path can still be saved with the right outcome, experts say.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 4:38pm

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WWE is finally giving fans the long-awaited Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton match for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42. While the booking leading up to this showdown has been suboptimal, experts believe the match can still be saved if Orton defeats Rhodes to claim his 15th world title, putting him just two away from tying John Cena's record.

Why it matters

This match represents one of the best stories WWE has to offer, as Rhodes and Orton's rivalry dates back to 2007. The booking could have been tighter, with a multi-person match making more sense to tie together months of storylines, but Triple H has generally avoided such formats. Nonetheless, the Orton-Rhodes clash remains a marquee attraction that can still deliver if handled correctly.

The details

Orton has been eyeing the WWE Championship every time he's been around Rhodes, and he lost to Rhodes in the King of the Ring final at Night of Champions last year. A multi-man match would have made more sense to wrap up the various storylines, but Triple H prefers more traditional one-on-one title matches at WrestleMania, with only two triple-threat bouts last year.

  • Orton recently lost to Rhodes in the King of the Ring final at Night of Champions last year.
  • WrestleMania 42 will take place on April 18, 2026.

The players

Randy Orton

A 15-time WWE world champion who is two titles away from tying John Cena's record.

Cody Rhodes

A rising star in WWE whose rivalry with Orton dates back to 2007.

Drew McIntyre

The current WWE Champion, whose match against Orton is seen as less compelling than the Rhodes-Orton clash.

Triple H

The WWE executive who has generally booked more traditional one-on-one title matches at WrestleMania rather than multi-person formats.

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What they’re saying

“WWE finally is giving us Randy Orton against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania for the WWE championship. Now it has to give us one more thing for this chaotic booking to be worth it.”

— Joseph Staszewski

What’s next

Orton needs to defeat Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 to claim his 15th world title, putting him just two away from tying John Cena's record.

The takeaway

While the booking path to this match has been suboptimal, the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton clash at WrestleMania represents one of WWE's best stories. If handled correctly, with Orton emerging victorious, it can still be a marquee attraction that satisfies fans and furthers Orton's legacy as an all-time great.