“I Owe You One”: Randy Orton Sends Chilling 3-Word Message to Cody Rhodes After Title Win
The road to WrestleMania just got a whole lot more personal. Last week on Friday Night SmackDown, the wrestling world watched as Cody Rhodes reclaimed his throne, defeating Drew McIntyre to become a three-time Undisputed WWE Champion. The win solidifies Rhodes’ spot at the top of the card as we head toward the biggest show of the year.
However, one legend was watching the action unfold very closely, and he didn’t waste a second to let “The American Nightmare” know he’s next in line.
Randy Orton, fresh off his victory in the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber match, has officially punched his ticket to WrestleMania 42. He will challenge Rhodes for the WWE Championship in what promises to be an absolute war.
Adding fuel to the fire, Orton took to his Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the moment. The video shows “The Viper” standing in a backstage area, eyes glued to a monitor as he watches the final moments of the Rhodes vs. McIntyre clash.
In the caption, Orton kept it short, simple, and terrifyingly direct, tagging his future opponent with the promise:
“See you next week in Phoenix, @americannightmarecody.”
It is a stark reminder that while Rhodes was celebrating his victory, a predator was already circling.
Orton Wanted a Familiar Foe at WrestleMania 41
In other news surrounding the 14-time World Champion, a fascinating “what if” scenario from last year’s WrestleMania has come to light. While Orton ended up facing Joe Hendry at WrestleMania 41—a match that delighted the crowd—it turns out The Apex Predator originally had a different name in mind for his comeback bout.
During a recent appearance on the Rewind Recap Relive podcast, former WWE star Matt Riddle revealed that Orton personally reached out to him with a massive pitch.
According to Riddle, Orton wanted his old RK-Bro tag team partner to be his surprise opponent at the Showcase of the Immortals.
“The last time I talked to anybody from WWE was before WrestleMania last year because they were looking for an opponent for Randy,” Riddle explained. “Randy hit me up being like, ‘Hey, I pitched you to be my opponent.’ And I was like, ‘Holy c***, thank you.’
Riddle went on to say that he immediately contacted Triple H to make himself available, passing any necessary tests to get the green light. However, management decided to go in a different direction, ultimately selecting the red-hot Joe Hendry for the high-profile spot.
While that reunion never materialized, the upcoming showdown in Phoenix between Orton and Rhodes is shaping up to be a generational clash. Will the veteran Viper strike down the champion, or will Cody continue to finish his story?
