How Cody Rhodes Can Change His WWE Character To Counter Randy Orton

Cody Rhodes will have his fourth straight WrestleMania world title match. (Credit: Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images) WWE via Getty Images Cody Rhodes isn’t turning heel, but WWE plans on making significant alterations to his character. Two weeks ago on SmackDown, Rhodes’ WrestleMania challenger and longtime friend Randy Orton turned heel on the WWE Champion mere weeks before their main event clash at WrestleMania 42.

Given Orton’s history of heel turns, perhaps WWE fans should have seen this coming. But Orton’s turn was indeed unforeseen, coming just one year after John Cena turned heel in similar fashion, once again in the lead-up to a WrestleMania rivalry with Rhodes, the WWE Champion. Now, Rhodes could be in line for a major character change in order to combat the newly heel Orton.

MORE FROM FORBES 5 Matches WWE Must Add To WrestleMania 42 By Blake Oestriecher According to Self Made Pro (h/t EWrestlingNews ), Rhodes’ feud with Orton will lead to Rhodes developing a more aggressive and edgy character, "When Cody reemerges on TV for the rest of this build, he will, quote, ‘fight fire with fire. ’…The edge Randy is showing right now in this build — Cody is going to show a similar edge in contrast to Randy, or to combat it. ” Indeed, while Rhodes may not be officially moving to the dark side, he’s going to need to get about as close as it gets in order to overcome Orton.

And if this feels like history repeating itself, that’s because, well, it is. Since returning to WWE in 2022, Rhodes has often been the facilitator of a handful of significant heel turns, especially in route to WrestleMania. He’s been at the center of turns for The Rock, Cena and Orton just during WrestleMania season, but also for stars like Kevin Owens as well.