Cody Rhodes reportedly played a key role in shaping the main event for WrestleMania 42, actively pushing for a match against Randy Orton. This information emerged during a Self Made Session on March 9, 2026, when it was revealed that Rhodes had known for weeks about his opponent and advocated for this marquee matchup on WWE’s biggest stage.
Details on Rhodes’ Early Awareness and Support for the Match
According to sources, Cody Rhodes was aware as early as February that Randy Orton would be his WrestleMania adversary. His confidence in the potential impact of the match led him to encourage the pairing, believing it to be a major contest befitting the event’s stature.
“Cody Rhodes knew that that was the match that was happening for a while. Cody Rhodes, as early as February, knew he was facing Randy.”
“And I can tell you that Cody Rhodes did push for Randy because he believed that was a big-time matchup.”
Championship Status and Fan Reaction Preceding WrestleMania
Rhodes captured the Undisputed WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre on the March 6 episode of SmackDown, a move that sparked significant online criticism from fans who felt McIntyre should have entered WrestleMania as the reigning champion. Despite those objections, WWE has maintained Rhodes as the titleholder set to defend his championship against Orton in Las Vegas.
Significance of the Match and Potential Impact on WWE’s Direction
If the reports hold true, the WrestleMania 42 main event resulted substantially from Rhodes’ initiative, aiming to face his former Legacy stablemate Orton in a high-profile showdown. This decision also reflects Rhodes’ belief in delivering a compelling bout worthy of the event’s prestige, underscoring his influence on WWE’s creative direction heading into one of the company’s biggest annual events.
