Highlights
- WWE cannot afford to ruin Cody Rhodes’ momentum by not giving him high-profile feuds and opponents.
- Cody Rhodes should not be on autopilot until The Rock and Roman Reigns return – he needs to remain active and busy.
- Feuding with Randy Orton could carry Cody Rhodes’ title reign for months, with the potential for a multi-match series.
Cody Rhodes’ first Undisputed WWE Championship defense is now in the bag as he managed to defeat AJ Styles in a hard-fought main event clash at the Backlash 2024 premium live event. When looking ahead to the next few months, Rhodes needs new and fresh opponents to keep his momentum going until Roman Reigns and The Rock inevitably return to continue their feud, as has been teased already on WWE programming. On the SmackDown roster there are currently several names who could step up to face Rhodes, but there is only one obvious choice for his next title rival – Randy Orton.
WWE Cannot Afford To Ruin Cody Rhodes’ Momentum
Cody Rhodes Should Not Be On Autopilot Until The Rock & Roman Reigns Come Back
- Reports suggest WWE has no major plans for Cody Rhodes right now
- Cody Rhodes needs to be presented as WWE’s top star
- Cody Rhodes’ feuds and opponents need to be high profile
One of the biggest worries among fans when it comes to Cody Rhodes is the potential squandering of the momentum he’s had for the last two years. The chase for a babyface is always good, but often the resulting title win and reign can be underwhelming. After a great main event against AJ Styles, things are going fairly well for Rhodes, but keeping this momentum going is hugely important. The SmackDown roster has some candidates for a WWE Title challenger such as LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, and Kevin Owens, but someone who needs to be at the top of that list is Randy Orton.
It was reported by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE has no major plans for Rhodes until the returning big names like The Rock and Roman Reigns, but this simply is not good enough for a man who is supposed to be leading the new era in the company. WWE cannot make the mistake it did in the previous era of squandering babyfaces and ruining potential stars. Rhodes needs to be busy and active, with every opponent and defense feeling significant and not just a means to kill some time before bigger stars return from their hiatuses. This is where Randy Orton comes in.
Randy Orton Vs. Cody Rhodes Is A Feud That Makes Sense
The Viper And The American Nightmare Have A Lot Of History
- Randy Orton was the mentor of Cody Rhodes in his early WWE days
- There is a lot of storyline potential for Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
- Student vs. Teacher stories are easy to tell in wrestling
Rhodes needs some strong stories that are not just about the title and not just surrounding the respect that stars have for Rhodes’ father, Dusty. There is a ready-made story waiting though when it comes to Randy Orton. In 2008, when Rhodes was still just a rookie, he was taken under the wing of Orton in The Legacy faction, which helped Rhodes to grow – something he has always been very outwardly thankful for. Eventually, their time came to an end as the group broke up and Orton defeated Rhodes multiple times in feuds. This is something that can be called back to with Rhodes looking for redemption or Orton doubling down on the fact that he pushed Rhodes to the side and is better.
Every Version Of Cody Rhodes, Ranked Worst To Best
There have been several versions of Cody Rhodes across WWE, AEW, ROH and other promotions. Here is every version of Cody Rhodes, ranked.
Neither man needs to turn heel, but bringing an edge out of one another is important for a feud like this. Babyface feuds built on mutual respect in WWE end up resulting in underwhelming matches (see AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34, for example), so WWE would need to find an extra spark for this rivalry, and the potential is there.
Feuding With Randy Orton Could Carry Cody Rhodes’ Title Reign For Months
Cody Rhodes Vs. Randy Orton Could Be A Multi-Match Series
When it comes to a prospective feud like Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, there is the potential to have several chapters. The first could just be a match focused on the respect they have for one another, but when Rhodes wins it could bring out a darker side of Orton who is more intent on winning gold and going to any length to win yet another world title. This is where the story of student vs. teacher and old bad blood can be brought up and heightened. If WWE wanted, there is certainly the potential for a trilogy, with the final match having a stipulation such as Hell In A Cell, Last Man Standing, or even a Bullrope Match if WWE wanted to get historic.
10 Pictures Of A Young Cody Rhodes WWE Fans Need To See
Adrenaline has been running in Cody Rhodes’ soul from a young age, as WWE fans can see in these pictures!
This is a rivalry that could carry SmackDown through the next several months, and it can be one which ensures Rhodes’ title reign is distinctive and memorable, rather than him just running the gauntlet of big star after big star on the roster. It doesn’t perhaps need to be immediate, but following King & Queen Of The Ring, this rivalry needs to be next on the list for Rhodes as Undisputed WWE Champion.
