Randy Orton entered the 2025 King of the Ring with two goals: avenge his loss to Gunther in last year’s King of the Ring final and earn a rematch with John Cena, who handed him a humiliating defeat in his hometown of St. Louis back in May.
On Friday’s SmackDown, Orton stood across from his opponent and longtime friend, Cody Rhodes, and made it clear that his personal feelings wouldn’t get in the way of his professional mission.
“I’m going to tell you, out of respect, face to face, man to man, there is nothing, there is no single thing that I won’t do to make sure I leave Saudi Arabia with that crown atop my head,” Orton said to Rhodes.
Well, about that.
Orton lied. He lied to Rhodes. He lied to the world. But most of all, Orton told one great big giant fib to himself.
When push came to shove at Night of Champions, “The Viper” lost his venom, and then he lost to Rhodes.
Midway through the match, Orton had Rhodes dead to rights. He lined up to punt, ready to drive his boot through Rhodes’ skull. But he hesitated — out of respect, out of stupidity, out of something. He eventually went for it, but by then the moment had passed. Rhodes capitalized and mounted a comeback.
Later, Orton showed more edge, grabbing a steel chair — not to use, but to distract the ref while he exposed a turnbuckle. Again, Rhodes recovered, dodging disaster, and sending Orton crashing into the steel. One Cross Rhodes and a three-count later, a seething Orton watched as WWE crowned King Cody.
For much of 2024, WWE teased a heel turn by Orton on Rhodes as the latter was the Undisputed WWE Champion. But that turn never happened, and the two men remained on good terms.
Until now.
Because the look on Orton’s face during Rhodes’ coronation told a different story. It appears their saga may just be getting started.
During Saturday’s match, Rhodes showed no hesitation in going after Orton. Early on, Orton tweaked his back on a superplex. Rhodes pounced, stretching Orton’s spine across the ring post and zeroing in on the injury. Still, he kept it (mostly) within the rules.
That aggression stands in sharp contrast to Rhodes’ performance at WrestleMania 41, when he stood flat-footed and let Cena kick him below the belt, costing him the Undisputed Title. This new version of Rhodes appears locked in as he heads toward a SummerSlam rematch with Cena.
But that glare from Orton? It says something else is brewing.
Rhodes may have enough to finally put Cena down. But if Orton steps in his way — and it sure looks like he might — then WWE’s new king could find himself bowing to Cena once again before the credits roll on their sequel.
