Cody Rhodes headlined WrestleMania 39, in a huge match-up against Roman Reigns.
His return to the WWE after 6 years, setting up a year-long storyline to the main event of WrestleMania. Injury stalled the plans, but he made up with it with an incredible Royal Rumble victory.
Cody Rhodes looks set to walk out of WrestleMania 39 with the WWE Championship, with Roman Reigns near 1000 day reign looking set to end.
Cody has shown to be an incredibly popular superstar. His merchandise sales have come close to Roman Reigns and John Cena, indicating just how good Cody Rhodes is.
It’s likely that Cody will walk out of WrestleMania as the champion and the new face of the WWE. With that will come the responsibility of carrying the company on his back, but that will hinge on his first title feud after the big one.
Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton should be that rivalry.
Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes
A feud with Randy Orton would go a long way to legitimise Cody Rhodes as a world champion in the eyes of the fans.
A first time reign can make-or-break a new champion, and a first feud can be crucial. However, with a built in story and a history between Rhodes and Orton, it would go a long way to making Cody an even bigger star.
Orton has been out injured since last summer, but is rumoured to be back in time for WrestleMania 39. He is rumoured to be making a guest appearance after a horrific back injury, although it does not seem like he will wrestle at the event.
However, if he is cleared for the week after WrestleMania, he could interrupt Cody Rhodes on Raw to kick off a legacy feud that has been brewing since the American Nightmare returned to the WWE last year.
Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes is absolute money. They are both sons of WWE Hall of Famers. Randy Orton was Cody Rhodes first match in the WWE, as well as Dusty Rhodes last match in the WWE.
They also were a team, alongside Ted Dibiase Jr as Legacy. Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton would be a blockbuster feud, which could main event multiple pay per views in the months following WrestleMania 39.
Cody Rhodes’ WWE Debut Was Against Randy Orton
Cody Rhodes debut match in the WWE was actually against Randy Orton. The pair’s careers have been intertwined since way back when, with Orton welcoming Cody into the wrestling world with his first match in WWE.
Cody Rhodes debut in WWE can during a backstage segment on the July 2 2007 episode of Monday Night Raw. Cody Rhodes appeared in a backstage segment along with his father, Dusty Rhodes, and his future tag team partner, Randy Orton.
In his WWE debut appearance, Cody Rhodes was introduced backstage to a number of superstars by his father, Dusty Rhodes.
The first was “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, a former opponent of Dusty Rhodes, who Dusty introduces to Cody and the pair shake hands and have a short chat.
However, they are soon joined by Randy Orton, currently in the midst of his famous Legend Killer gimmick.
Orton soon introduces himself to the young Rhodes, proclaiming that like how Randy became better than his father (Cowboy Bob Orton), Cody Rhodes would too become better than his father.
When called out on being disrespectful to The American Dream, he proceeds to slap Dusty Rhodes, proclaiming “How’s that for disrespectful?”.
Dusty Rhodes then holds back young Cody Rhodes from attacking Randy Orton, before the segment ends and the video fades to black.
Cody Rhodes debut match in WWE was against Randy Orton on July 16 2007 episode of Monday Night Raw. Cody Rhodes was 22 at the time of his debut, making him one of the youngest WWE wrestlers ever.
He was joined by Dusty Rhodes at ringside, who had a rivalry going with Randy Orton over the last few weeks on WWE Monday Night Raw.
Cody Rhodes WWE debut ended in defeat, as he was defeated by former World Champion Randy Orton in a short match.
Orton dominated the majority of the match, and directed most of his attention to ringside, where Dusty Rhodes was watching Orton beating down his son.
Cody Rhodes did manage some punches and a missile dropkick onto Orton, but failed to get the win over his future Legacy teammate.
He hit the RKO to win a short match, and tried to attack Dusty Rhodes after the match. However, he was foiled by The American Dream, and that would set up a clash of Randy Orton vs Dusty Rhodes at The Great American Bash 2007, in a Texas Bull rope Match. Cody Rhodes was at ringside for that match, and was his debut appearance on a PPV.
Would you like to see Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton after WrestleMania 39? Let us know what you think down in the comments section below.