Randy Orton Brutalizes Cody Rhodes in Epic Heel Turn on SmackDown

Randy Orton finally snapped on Cody Rhodes on this week's SmackDown to inflict a beating on his longtime friend.

Randy Orton Brutalizes Cody Rhodes in Epic Heel Turn on SmackDown

Randy Orton attacking Cody Rhodes on SmackDown [via- WWE]

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton signed on the dotted line on this week’s SmackDown to make their WrestleMania 42 match official. But what happened immediately after both men had put their initials on the contract was diabolical.

‘The QB1’ regurgitated how he’d always looked up to ‘The Viper’ from the point Rhodes debuted in WWE in 2007. Rhodes also noted that Orton’s always been there for him through thick and thin. Once the former AEW EVP signed the contract, his mentor-cum-friend asserted that Rhodes probably didn’t understand how badly Orton needed to win the world title again.

‘The Apex Predator’ thought his chase for the fifteenth was going to be easy with Drew McIntyre supposedly standing in his way. Cody Rhodes tried talking some weight off Orton’s shoulders by asking him to go full steam on him once that bell rings at WrestleMania.

‘The Prodigal Son’ said he wanted the 45-year-old veteran to channel his ‘Legend Killer’ persona when it’s time for them to have a crack at each other. However, once they’re done with their match, he’ll go back to always loving Orton, said Rhodes.

With that being said, ‘The Viper’ proceeded on to sign the contract as well. Rhodes was all smiles and clapping for a bit before offering a handshake to Orton, who pulled him in to complete it and, out of nowhere, smashed Rhodes’ head into the desk.

‘The Apex Predator’ sent ‘The Quarterback of WWE’ to the outside after going low on him. Orton threw Rhodes over the commentary table and grabbed the steel steps to spike the ‘American Nightmare’ in the side of his head. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis tried stopping Orton but was shoved to the ground by the 14-time world champion.

One of the most unhinged visuals from that beatdown came when Orton cradled Rhodes’ head into the V of the steel steps that Orton placed against the announce desk. ‘The QB1’, already in a bloody mess, was swarmed by WWE officials and Jelly Roll as they tried restoring a semblance of order.

Orton, who had disappeared for a short while, re-emerged with a steel chair to smash it across Rhodes’ face against the steel. The camera work for that particular spot was just what it needed to be. There was utter chaos at ringside, with Cody Rhodes remotely lifeless at that point.

‘The Apex Predator’ went back in the ring and sat on a chair with the Undisputed WWE title in his grasp. The show ended with Orton placing the belt around his waist and Rhodes being attended to by several officials.

When did Cody Rhodes’ relationship dynamic shift with Randy Orton?

A few days ago, Cody Rhodes had a sit-down conversation with COMPLEX Graps. Out of a multitude of topics he tapped into, the 3-time Undisputed WWE Champion also touched on the shift in the dynamic of his relationship with Randy Orton once ‘The QB1’ was called up to the WWE main roster in 2007. Rhodes had always been a huge fan of Orton since his days in the Evolution faction.

Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes on SmackDown
Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes on SmackDown [via- WWE]

The North Carolina native found it fascinating the way Triple H used to hail Randy Orton as the coal that’ll eventually turn into a diamond. Rhodes explained that the dynamic shift in his relationship with Orton came because the latter was more troubled in that period. ‘The American Nightmare’ would ultimately, over the years, forge a close bond with Orton, and their stint as part of the Legacy stable also certainly helped the cause.

Orton was Rhodes’ first televised match opponent in WWE two weeks after ‘The Legend Killer’ slapped Cody’s late father, Dusty Rhodes, in a backstage segment. ‘The QB1’, in the aforementioned interview, added that even though he has wrestled the St. Louis-born great a few times, he’s yet to feel as if Orton genuinely wants to beat him up.

Speaking about their upcoming WrestleMania match, Cody Rhodes said he wants Randy Orton to stand across from him in the ring and stare at Rhodes as not only someone he mentored and groomed for the industry but also as someone he wants to defeat.

And after what transpired in the main event of this week’s SmackDown, ‘The Prodigal Son’ has everything to fear, for he’s channeled those voices in Orton’s head that he’d been trying to keep dormant for a long time.

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