Cody Rhodes Admits Ideas Often Fail After Orton Loss
Cody Rhodes Admits Ideas Often Fail After Orton Loss
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Key Points
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During the loss to Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes hit two Cross Rhodes and used the steel steps to bust Orton open, but stopped himself from delivering Orton’s signature punt kick after Orton pleaded for mercy. That hesitation allowed Orton to recover and win after a low blow and RKO.
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The match was complicated by multiple referee bumps: the finish only occurred after three separate officials were taken out, including a low blow that incapacitated both Rhodes and the referee before Orton hit the RKO.
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The Orton-Rhodes rivalry has included several major twists: Rhodes previously defeated Orton at WrestleMania 42 to deny him a record 15th world title, after which Orton attacked him with the championship belt and a punt kick; Orton later returned at SummerSlam and cost Rhodes a title match against CM Punk.
4
Cody Rhodes said he once pitched selling his soul to Simone Johnson rather than to The Rock, with Johnson—then NXT general manager—saying they could have made the storyline work together.
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The stipulation for the Orton-Rhodes rematch barred both wrestlers from touching each other before the bell or they would forfeit any future WWE Championship opportunity; both men ultimately broke that agreement during the match.
Cody Rhodes is set to sit down with Michael Cole on WWE SmackDown after a bruising loss to Randy Orton at Sunday Night's Main Event, where Orton used a low blow and RKO to secure victory. eWrestling News reported that Rhodes was visibly frustrated during the interview, vowing to move forward despite losing both his Undisputed WWE Championship to Sami Zayn and this heated rematch to his former mentor.
The loss leaves Rhodes' path to the title unclear in a crowded landscape. The Ring Report noted that Rhodes competed in Money in the Bank qualifiers on the same SmackDown episode, signaling he may shift his focus to ladder match competition while navigating his ongoing rivalry with Orton.
How Rhodes' Hesitation Cost Him Against Orton
Rhodes dominated much of the match, hitting two Cross Rhodes and smashing Orton's head into the steel steps to draw blood. But when he stood over a prone Orton and wound up for the punt kick—Orton's own signature move—Orton pleaded for mercy. TJR Wrestling reported that Rhodes hesitated, unable to deliver the finishing blow. That moment of compassion allowed Orton to recover and execute a low blow followed by an RKO for the win.
The finish came after chaos inside the ring. Three separate referees were knocked down during the match, creating confusion about the count and creating opportunities for both men to cheat. PWInsider documented that the final sequence involved a low blow that incapacitated both Rhodes and the referee before Orton's RKO ended the contest.
A Rivalry Built on WrestleMania Redemption and Revenge
This rematch traces back to WrestleMania 42, where Rhodes defeated Orton and denied him a record 15th world championship. After losing, Orton attacked Rhodes with the championship belt and delivered a punt kick as payback. WWE.com documented that Orton later returned at SummerSlam, where he cost Rhodes a title match against CM Punk, extending their bitter feud into the present.
The stakes were raised for the rematch through a pre-match stipulation that barred both wrestlers from touching each other before the bell. Violators would forfeit any future WWE Championship opportunity. Yet both men broke the agreement during the match itself, showing how personal the conflict had become.
Rhodes Admits Most Creative Ideas End in Failure
In a candid moment, Rhodes acknowledged that most of his creative pitches to WWE management don't work out. He credited the people around him—including WWE management—for refining his ideas and helping shape him into a successful performer. His honesty reflects the collaborative nature of WWE storytelling, where wrestlers pitch angles but executives decide what gets produced.
One example: Rhodes once pitched selling his soul to Simone Johnson, then NXT general manager, instead of The Rock. Johnson indicated they could have made that storyline work together. eWrestling News noted that Bully Ray has been pushing WWE to take Rhodes darker by having him finally 'snap' in response to Orton's sustained attacks, suggesting a potential character shift ahead.
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