WWE Scrapped Major Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Plans—And What We Saw On SmackDown Changes Everything
When it comes to WWE’s road to WrestleMania 42, it turns out what fans are getting between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton wasn’t actually the original plan. In fact, the showdown was meant to happen much later, but a series of unexpected injuries behind the scenes forced the company to pivot in a big way.
According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the build toward Rhodes and Orton was always in the works, but the original timeline had the two superstars waiting until after WrestleMania to settle their score. The early vision for the Undisputed WWE Champion’s title defense looked very different, with Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns both being eyed as potential opponents for the grand stage next month.
So what changed? A domino effect of injuries. Bron Breakker’s unfortunate setback took him out of a planned program with CM Punk, which in turn shifted Reigns into that spotlight for the World Heavyweight Championship. Meanwhile, McIntyre’s path took a turn when he was lined up to face Jacob Fatu before stepping away to film his role in the upcoming Highlander reboot.
But if the creative landscape has shifted, the storytelling on the ground is only getting more intense. Friday’s SmackDown delivered a moment that fans are still talking about. Orton took a seat in the very same dented steel chair he used to attack Rhodes weeks ago, and in a chilling promo, admitted that the years of love he’s shown the WWE Universe were all an act. The Viper, it seems, is done pretending.
Despite trying to lean into a villainous role, the crowd still couldn’t help but cheer him. That didn’t stop Orton from sending a brutal message to close the show. In a vicious segment, he turned his attention to Rhodes’ friend Matt Cardona, using that iconic steel chair to dismantle the former Zack Ryder in a way that felt deeply personal and painfully deliberate.
On top of all that, the mystery continues to build. For weeks, Orton has been seen having cryptic phone conversations on both Raw and SmackDown, and speculation is running wild about who is on the other end. The prevailing theory points to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, especially after his recent shift away from Hollywood’s awards season spotlight. The timing and the secrecy have fans convinced a major power player is about to re-enter the fray.
It’s a twist-filled road to WrestleMania, but one thing is becoming clear: whatever Rhodes and Orton were originally supposed to do, the version we are getting now may be even more unpredictable.
