Dave Meltzer: WWE hopes fans will root for Randy Orton over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania

Dave Meltzer: WWE hopes fans will root for Randy Orton over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania
Dave Meltzer: WWE hopes fans will root for Randy Orton over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania

Friday’s edition of “WWE SmackDown” saw Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton’s turn on his now-former friend and Legacy teammate, WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes, ahead of their title match at WrestleMania 42. During the turn, in which Orton brutally punched Rhodes, drawing blood, fans cheered for “The Viper.” According to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of “Wrestling Observer Radio,” that’s something WWE officials imagined would happen.

“I still hope Randy Orton gets applauded at WrestleMania… Everyone expects it,” Meltzer said. “Including WWE, don’t kid yourself. They want Randy to be the heel. It’s tough, when you have a guy who’s in his 40s and has been around for 25 years at the top… You have that thing where people don’t really want to boo you because they’ve seen you for too long and they like you.”

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Orton heads into his 21st match at WrestleMania, seeking the 15th world championship of his career. While his contract signing with Rhodes at the end of “SmackDown” began respectfully, things took a turn and Orton bloodied the champion with the steel steps.

At one point, Orton’s SummerSlam 2025 teammate, Jelly Roll, jumped over the barricade to try to calm “The Viper,” but was pushed to the floor for his troubles. Orton sat in the ring, with the WWE Undisputed Championship belt in his hands, to end the segment as the show went off the air.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Wrestling Observer Radio” and provide ah/ta Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Read more: How did Cody’s ‘The List’ turn out for everyone else?

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