Real Reason WWE Took Undisputed Title Off Cody Rhodes Earlier This Year Revealed

Cody Rhodes losing the Undisputed WWE Championship earlier this year may have been part of a much bigger WrestleMania plan.

Speculation has been building around a potential WrestleMania 42 showdown between Rhodes and Randy Orton. Orton secured a championship opportunity after winning the Elimination Chamber match, while Rhodes is now set to challenge Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship on this week’s episode of SmackDown.

While recent reports have suggested that Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton is currently the direction WWE is working toward for WrestleMania, a new detail may explain a major decision WWE made months ago.

According to Fightful Select, WWE taking the Undisputed WWE Championship off Rhodes earlier this year was not simply a storyline twist. Instead, it was reportedly done to allow Rhodes to appear in two of WWE’s biggest premium live events during the WrestleMania build.

“We’re also told that one of the reasons the title was taken off of Cody Rhodes, was so that he would be featured in the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches, adding to the draw of those shows.”

It was noted that the Rhodes vs. Orton WrestleMania direction had already been discussed internally long before recent reports began surfacing.

“Fightful was told by a source as far back as January that both Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton were aware of the plan being pitched for WrestleMania.”

At the time, the idea reportedly seemed difficult to pull off because there was no clear storyline path to get there.

“PWInsider reported that Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton was the active plan for WrestleMania. This matches with something that Fightful was told well over a month ago, which at the time seemed like there wasn’t much of a path to get to.”

As of last month, the plan moving forward was still said to be Rhodes facing Orton on WWE’s biggest stage. However, the situation may still be fluid.

“As of last month, the plan moving forward was Orton vs. Cody at WrestleMania. However, the plans have been in flux so much that anything could change.”

Now the situation could hinge on this week’s SmackDown, where Rhodes is scheduled to challenge Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship. If Rhodes wins the title, it would clear the path for a championship showdown against Orton at WrestleMania 42.

WWE has made plenty of late creative pivots during WrestleMania season in the past, but the reasoning behind Rhodes losing the title earlier this year suggests the company may have been laying the groundwork for this direction all along.

Do you think Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton is the right WrestleMania main event, or should WWE have kept the Undisputed WWE Championship on Rhodes throughout the entire WrestleMania build? Let us know what you think in the comments.