The Definitive Argument for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton at WWE WrestleMania 42
Following Elimination Chamber, WWE can finally settle a long-awaited world title matchup featuring Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42.
WWE's latest premium live event wasn't the slam dunk the company needed to raise interest in this year's build to The Showcase of Immortals. However, its return to the United Center drew a strong crowd and included some legitimate surprises.
It's safe to assume most fans expected Rhodes to win the men's Elimination Chamber match and earn a rematch against Drew McIntyre. Instead, Orton delivered an RKO out of nowhere to steal the win and punch his ticket to Allegiant Stadium.
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Yes, it's concerning that WWE went with another established star over 40 after John Cena won the match last year. Still, the visual of a disheartened Rhodes with his mentor basking in another ovation in the background was enough to tease what's to come.
The 40-year-old will attempt to walk onto The Grandest Stage of Them All as the Undisputed WWE champion for the second consecutive year. If he succeeds, he will face another pivotal figure in his career, and that's much more compelling than another match with McIntyre.
The Last Obstacle to Greatness
This is a matchup many fans have been clamoring for since the second-generation star returned to WWE. The company surprisingly didn't capitalize on it during his time as champion and barely scratched the surface during the 2025 King of the Ring finals.
The two have such a complex relationship going back to their time as The Legacy. Although the stable imploded on the road to WrestleMania 26, Rhodes still gets visibly emotional when he talks about Orton and his influence on his career.
When The Viper returned in 2023, he spoke about how much his former stablemate inspired him during the Survivor Series post-show press conference.
"What an outstanding mentor he was to me, truly," Rhodes said. "I'll never forget standing in the ring at the Royal Rumble when he won, pointing at the star WrestleMania sign and just thinking, 'I want to be like him.'"
The American Nightmare also cherishes a picture from his crowing moment because he "proved him right" and "didn't let him down" when he finished the story in 2024. So, the self-doubt that must've washed over him during the closing moments of Elimination Chamber must've been overwhelming.
The two-time Royal Rumble winner has enjoyed so much success since 2022, but the vestige of the old guard still looms heavily over him. His desire to prove he could surpass them was integral to his feuds with Cena and Brock Lesnar, but Orton is still a personal obstacle to him.
Rhodes still experiences impostor syndrome around him because he's still the image he has been trying to live up to. His journey to go from undesirable to undeniable won't be complete without a victory over him at The Show of Shows.
A Legacy Game
Nevertheless, Orton will also attempt to secure his place in history as he sets out to become a 15-time world champion. The 45-year-old hasn't won the top prize since 2020, when he feuded with McIntrye during the pandemic.
Last year, we saw the lengths Cena was willing to go to protect his legacy. It makes you wonder if The Viper will resort to his old ways to get the upperhand on his pupil. After all, we saw subtle signs that he's willing to do whatever it takes to win at Elimination Chamber.
However, the real story is whether Rhodes will finally break and turn heel. Kevin Owens pushed him to his limits, McIntrye questioned his benevolence, and his hesitance to deliver the final blow at WrestleMania 41 cost him the title.
Similarly, he took his eye off of Orton just long enough for him to strike and momentarily steal his shot at McIntyre. Is this the last straw that will set him over the edge and encourage him to turn on the man he admires the most?
In truth, it's the ultimate lesson his mentor could impart on him and the perfect way to close this chapter of his career. His return to WWE has already produced the consummate redemption arc. Rhodes ascended to the pinnacle of the industry, but he must contend with what it takes to remain on top.
At every turn, others like CM Punk have warned him about what it means to be a top guy. A match with Orton is the final litmus test for a competitor who has worked so long to be in this spot.
It's a position the future Hall of Famer made him believe he could attain, but is he ready to kill a legend to keep it? That's the big question, and it immediately makes this the storyline that this year's build to The Greatest Spectacle in Sport Entertainment needs.
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