Cody Rhodes captured the 2025 King of the Ring crown by defeating Randy Orton at Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the most significant development from the match was the deliberate setup for a future villainous turn for Orton.
The finish of the June 28 contest saw Orton’s own aggressive tactics turn against him. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez detailed the conclusion.
“Well, yeah, Randy undoes the top turnbuckle. They fought over it. Randy tried the RKO, Cody shoved him into the exposed buckle, hit a Cross Rhodes and got the win.”
Throughout the match, Orton displayed a more ruthless edge, notably teasing the Punt Kick on Rhodes, a move associated with his “Legend Killer” persona. This willingness to potentially injure his friend was a clear indicator of a shift in character.
The narrative, however, intensified after the bell. As the newly crowned Rhodes respectfully addressed Orton in a post-match interview, the camera focused on Orton’s reaction in the entrance aisle.
“Aldis and Pearce get in the ring. They give Cody the crown. Byron interviews Cody and as he’s thanking Randy, they cut to Randy in the aisle. And Randy is sneering. He is not happy,” Alvarez observed.
Despite Rhodes encouraging the crowd to applaud the future Hall of Famer, Orton’s demeanor told a different story.
“Cody said this guy’s a future Hall of Famer. It’s not his last stop here in Saudi Arabia. Give this guy a hand, he says. And then Randy kind of slinks off.”
Dave Meltzer, on the same show, confirmed that these actions were intentional storytelling, designed to build a future program between the two with Orton positioned as the antagonist.
“Obviously they’re setting up Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton for a bigger match with Randy Orton as a heel… I could even see Randy Orton cost Cody the match with Cena if they want to keep Cena as champion for a couple more months,” Meltzer speculated.
Meltzer went on to praise the understated nature of the storytelling, noting how the seeds were planted without being overly dramatic.
“It was very well done, like not overdone to the point of fake… just enough to where it’s there, the seeds are planted. Liked it.”
The events at Night of Champions serve as the culmination of weeks of subtle hints, with many now believing a full heel turn for the 45-year-old veteran is a matter of when, not if.