Cody Rhodes Recaptures WWE Championship
Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre on March 6 SmackDown to become a three-time Undisputed WWE Champion, with Jacob Fatu's surprise interference proving decisive. Rhodes will now face Randy Orton at WrestleMania, with wrestling podcasters giving Cody a "65-70% confidence" to retain despite Orton potentially tying the record with a 15th title reign.
Jacob Fatu's interference connects this title change directly to the ongoing Bloodline saga. Fatu, a member of the legendary Anoaʻi wrestling family, officially joined the Solo Sikoa-led version of The Bloodline in June 2024, debuting by attacking Rhodes and Randy Orton. The match-ending chaos on SmackDown saw the initial referee get knocked out by an accidental kick from Rhodes. After a second official was also incapacitated, McIntyre brought a steel chair into the ring, but Fatu appeared and prevented him from using it, which allowed Rhodes to recover and hit his finisher for the win. The upcoming WrestleMania match against Randy Orton is steeped in history. When Cody Rhodes first debuted on the WWE main roster in 2007, his first opponent was Randy Orton. This kicked off a long and complex relationship that saw them as both allies and enemies. From 2008 to 2010, Rhodes served as a protégé to Orton in the villainous faction known as Legacy. Alongside Ted DiBiase Jr., Rhodes acted as a subordinate, helping Orton win and retain the WWE Championship on multiple occasions. Orton's quest for a 15th world championship carries historical weight. He is currently tied with Triple H at 14 world title reigns in his career. A victory at WrestleMania would move Orton into sole possession of third place on the all-time list. The only wrestlers with more recognized world championships would be Ric Flair with 16 and John Cena, who holds the record with 17. This title match on SmackDown was a direct consequence of recent events. Drew McIntyre interfered in the Men's Elimination Chamber match, attacking Rhodes. As a result, SmackDown's General Manager Nick Aldis granted Rhodes the championship opportunity.
