From Claymore to RKO: Cody Rhodes’ Eventual Path from McIntyre to ‘The Viper’
This Saturday at WrestlePalooza, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will face off against ‘The Scottish Warrior’ Drew McIntyre for the title during WWE’s first-ever pay-per-view event on ESPN. While this feud with McIntyre has been action-packed, it seems like this story is getting us near another highly anticipated story: ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes vs. ‘The Viper’ Randy Orton. It’s only a matter of time before we see WWE’s ‘Apex Predator’ go after the title he’s been hunting over the last several years. We know Orton must go through his former ‘Legacy’ teammate, Rhodes, in order to achieve the ultimate prize in sports entertainment. During or after this match at WrestlePalooza, will we get one step closer to one of the most eagerly awaited matchups of the modern era?
A few weeks ago, McIntyre began feuding with Rhodes over his WWE Championship. A Claymore by McIntyre into the broadcasting table to the WWE Champion, put Rhodes out of action for a few weeks, which set up tension between McIntyre and Orton. Last Friday on SmackDown, McIntyre was ready to attack Orton in the same manner that put Rhodes out of action; however, the WWE Champion made his return and saved the day. That set up the matchup at WrestlePalooza between the two of them, which McIntyre has been looking to add another World Championship reign to his name. The saving of Orton by Rhodes seems like one of the early seeds being planted between the two of them. However, a few months ago, Rhodes defeated Orton to become the 2025 King of the Ring, which allowed Rhodes to face the WWE Champion at the time, John Cena, at SummerSlam. That is also just another seed being planted between Rhodes and Orton.
We’ve seen this feud happen before, yet this would be the first time this feud takes center stage. With Rhodes’ popularity soaring over the roof over the past few years, the WWE Champion will have all eyes on him when his former mentor eventually turns on him for the gold. Soon enough, when Orton turns on his friend and former mentee, this could easily set up the early half of 2026, whether these two face off at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, or at WrestleMania. It just begs the question of whether or not Orton will win his 15th World Championship from Rhodes, or will it be another WWE superstar to dethrone Rhodes?
