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· collected 2026-09-06 · by Ryan Gaydos
Cody Rhodes claims that Randy Orton's desire to win the WWE title is driven by desperation and addiction because he is close to tying John Cena's record of 16 championships. According to Rhodes, this "addiction and sickness" is actually more on Orton's end rather than his own. Rhodes, who has previously beaten Orton at King of the Ring and WrestleMania, believes that Orton feels underappreciated as one of the greatest WWE performers of all time. The two wrestlers are set to face off again in Sunday Night's Main Event, which will help clarify their standing in the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Cody Rhodes, a professional wrestler, is involved in a feud with Randy Orton on the WWE show SmackDown. The tension between them has been building since Orton's return to the show and they've come close to fighting each other several times. According to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, if they had physically clashed, they would have been barred from competing for a WWE championship. In their most recent face-to-face meeting, Orton insulted Rhodes, calling him an "addict" and "sick" because of his desire to be the champion. However, Rhodes responded in an interview by saying that Orton was actually trying to provoke him into hitting him, which would have led to their disqualification from competing for the championship. This strategy ultimately backfired as Rhodes went on to beat Orton at King of the Ring and at WrestleMania.
Written for “Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 5987 · logged 2026-09-07
Cody Rhodes’ relationship with Randy Orton has been fraught with tension since the "Legend Killer" returned to "Friday Night SmackDown" to reignite his feud with the "American Nightmare."
asserted
Killer → return → Nightmare
The two had come to blows numerous times before SmackDown GM Nick Aldis said the two couldn’t lay a finger on each other before their match at Sunday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta and if they did, they would have been barred from competing for a WWE championship.
asserted
they → come → championship
In their last face-to-face meeting, Orton tried to coax Rhodes into hitting him with strong words about how Rhodes was an "addict" and "sick" for his desire to be the champion.
asserted
Rhodes → try → desire
But when it comes to pro wrestling, why was that a bad thing?
asserted
that → come → wrestling
Rhodes responded to Orton’s words in an interview with OutKick Dropkick.
asserted
Rhodes → respond → Dropkick
"He had said, ‘addicted to winning the championship’ and ‘sick’ and putting it in front of everything.
asserted
He → say → everything
What's the term kids use today?
asserted
kids → use → ?
The rage bait, you know, or baiting me into ... because if I had hit him, then I don't get an opportunity for the WWE championship ever, and the same vice versa if he had hit me
asserted
he → know → me
," Rhodes said.
asserted
Rhodes → say → ?
"I hate to put it in such terms, but at King of the Ring, I beat Randy Orton.
asserted
I → hate → Orton
At WrestleMania, I beat Randy Orton.
asserted
I → beat → Orton
I feel the desperation and the addiction.
asserted
I → feel → desperation
Every pro wrestler, to your point, you're in this to win.
asserted
you → win → this
You're not trying to get second on the podium.
asserted
You → try → podium
I've never trusted a wrestler ever — hell, I've never liked a wrestler ever — who said he didn't want to be champion.
asserted
he → trust → wrestler
"But I think that addiction and sickness is actually more on Randy's end because Randy's close to the record.
asserted
Randy → think → record
I think Randy also feels that he's not been given the credit as one of the, you know, the GOATs of modern WWE, someone who's going to go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it.
asserted
who → think → it
He should know he is going to go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it, but he's also going to go down in history as the guy who lost for a third time at Sunday Night's Main Event to his protege, which is me."
asserted
which → know → protege
Rhodes, who spoke to OutKick Dropkick as part of his partnership with Clash of Clans and its new "Search for Cena" event, is among those vying to get back into the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.
asserted
who → speak → picture
This match between Rhodes and Orton will certainly clear the picture up a little bit as Money in the Bank inches closer.
asserted
Money → clear → Bank
Sunday Night’s Main Event will also feature a six-woman tag team match between the team of Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley and the team of Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab, a match between Baron Corbin and Lil Yachty and a bout between Oba Femi and Bron Breakker.
asserted
Event → feature → Femi
