Randy Orton Proud Of Top WWE Star: “I Could Have Never Done What You Did”

Randy Orton praised one WWE star’s decision to bet on himself.

Back in 2016, Cody Rhodes decided to leave WWE after feeling stagnant on the company’s main roster. He quickly became one of the hottest free agents in the world of independent wrestling, and in 2019, he helped form All Elite Wrestling.

Rhodes eventually returned to WWE as a top star in 2022, serving as Vince McMahon’s hand-picked opponent for Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 38. At WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes finally finished his story and became WWE Champion, the first man in his family to hold the prestigious title.

Speaking to Rhodes on What Do You Wanna Talk About, longtime friend Randy Orton praised the star for his decision to take a risk and bet on himself in 2016, saying he wouldn’t have had the guts to make the same decision.

“I’m so proud of you, dude. Legitimately so proud of you. When you left, the balls it took for you to leave and then, like, start from scratch kind of, but not. I mean, that’s not the right way to say it, because you were Cody f*****g Rhodes, but to do what you did, I could never have done what you did, never, never. So, when I say I’m proud of you, like I legitimately mean it.”

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Rhodes eventually returned to WWE as a top star in 2022, serving as Vince McMahon’s hand-picked opponent for Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 38. At WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes finally finished his story and became WWE Champion, the first man in his family to hold the prestigious title.

“I’m so proud of you, dude. Legitimately so proud of you. When you left, the balls it took for you to leave and then, like, start from scratch kind of, but not. I mean, that’s not the right way to say it, because you were Cody f*****g Rhodes, but to do what you did, I could never have done what you did, never, never. So, when I say I’m proud of you, like I legitimately mean it.” (h/t WrestlingInc)

Randy Orton And Cody Rhodes’ Friendship Dates Back Over A Decade

Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes have been linked since Rhodes’ early days in WWE. In the late 2000’s, the two men were aligned as part of Legacy. In a 2022 interview with Inside the Ropes, Orton explained how even though he was the senior partner with a young Rhodes at the time, it was Rhodes who often had to look out for him

“Cody, he was young, but I was still young when he came up, and I was still kind of in a period of time where I needed a babysitter. So as much as he puts me over for taking him under my wing when he was brand new, and drove me around town to town like he was a good — Cody, probably, is responsible for getting me town to town safely for a good three years of my career. If it wasn’t for him, I might not be here right now. Like, he was my babysitter after the show.”