Cody Rhodes has addressed his upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship defense against Randy Orton, noting his intention to embrace the “golden boy” label at WrestleMania 42. Speaking to Complex’s Graps the Podcast, Rhodes explained that while the term was originally used negatively, he intends to use the moniker. Rhodes secured his place on the WrestleMania card after defeating Drew McIntyre on the March 6 episode of SmackDown to regain the championship.
“I heard a term that was said in a condescending fashion, but I didn’t take it that way; I actually blushed. I heard someone say ‘golden boy’, and I loved it,” Rhodes stated. “I don’t know if I was supposed to love it, especially with how they were saying it. But I thought, ‘okay, maybe I’ll lean into that’, and maybe that’s the identity of this reign… I’ll take this golden boy moniker and see where it goes. I might even dial up my WrestleMania gear to lean into it further.”
Outrunning the Competition
Rhodes stated that his current output in the ring and on the road is a primary factor in his “golden boy” status. He claimed to be “outrunning everybody on the treadmill” at this stage of his career.
“I’d like this reign to give me an identity that perhaps I’ve been seeking, because every reign is different,” Rhodes concluded. The rivalry with Orton has intensified following the March 6 SmackDown, where Orton confronted Rhodes immediately following his title victory. Orton earned his championship opportunity by defeating Kevin Owens in the main event of Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24.
WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18 and 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The event features a double main event, with CM Punk also scheduled to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns, which is expected to take place on night 2.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Complex’s Graps the Podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
