Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton Reportedly Have Been Aware Of WWE’s WrestleMania 42 Plans Since January 2026 & Reason Why Rhodes Dropped Undisputed WWE Title

As noted before, this Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Phoenix, Arizona is currently scheduled to feature an Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. WWE officials are currently rumored to be planning for Rhodes to win the title and would then be facing Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 42.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that both Rhodes and Orton were aware of the creative plans for their WrestleMania 42 match as early as this past January. Rhodes and Orton reportedly have been working with this specific destination in mind following the considerable shift in the title landscape over the last two months.

In regards to the decision to have Rhodes drop the Undisputed WWE Championship to McIntyre this past January, Sapp reported that the title change was not meant to be a reflection of Rhodes’ standing as champion bit instead was a strategic move. WWE officials reportedly wanted Rhodes to participate in the Men’s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches. WWE officials reportedly also looked to add significant drawing power to those events by having Rhodes compete in those matches.

Sapp reported that while Orton vs. Rhodes remained the plan as of last month, WWE creative still remains in a state of flux and caution that the planned directions for the show could still shift with several weeks remaining until WrestleMania 42.