Bully Ray Says Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Story Was “Tampered With” For No Good Reason

Bully Ray isn’t holding back when it comes to the Undisputed WWE Championship feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, and he believes the storyline was altered in a way that hurt what should have been a major WrestleMania moment.

During a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray discussed the buildup to WrestleMania 42 and made it clear that while several matches on the card are delivering strong stories, the Rhodes versus Orton feud stands out for the wrong reasons. When the match was first announced, many fans saw it as a dream showdown years in the making due to their shared history. However, the addition of Pat McAfee to the storyline — reportedly influenced by TKO executive Ari Emanuel — has drawn criticism from some observers.

Ray explained that despite liking much of the WrestleMania lineup, he believes this feud lost momentum because of outside interference that changed the original direction.

“Listen, going into WrestleMania this year, we are getting some really good stories. I think we get off on this tangent because we’re still p**d off that a beautiful story like Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton got tampered with for no good reason. No good reason.”

Ray continued by questioning why executives would step into this particular feud while leaving other major storylines alone. He specifically pointed to the rivalry between CM Punk and Roman Reigns as an example of a program that has been allowed to develop without the same level of involvement.

“It’s weird, it’s like ‘Well, why didn’t you mess with Roman and Punk?’ Why’d you leave them alone, but you decided to get all involved in Cody vs Randy? It’s weird.”

According to Ray, the decision to alter the Rhodes versus Orton storyline could suggest a lack of confidence from leadership in the match’s ability to stand on its own as a main event attraction.

“Maybe they didn’t have any confidence in that main event of Randy vs Cody.”

The comments add fuel to an ongoing conversation about the role corporate leadership plays in shaping WWE storylines. While outside involvement can sometimes bring new ideas to the table, critics like Ray believe it can also disrupt narratives that fans have been invested in for years.

With WrestleMania 42 getting closer, the pressure is now on Rhodes and Orton to deliver in the ring and prove that the feud can still live up to expectations. Even with criticism surrounding the buildup, the match remains one of the most closely watched on the card.

Do you agree with Bully Ray that the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton feud was changed for the worse, or do you think the additions to the storyline made it more interesting? Let us know your thoughts and share your feedback in the comments.