Is Celebrity Involvement Ruining Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton Feud?

Rhodes vs. Orton is a storyline that needs no introduction.

It is one of WWE’s biggest faces going up against his mentor. Back in the late 2000s, Rhodes was a relative neophyte in the business when he and Ted DiBiase formed what would eventually become The Legacy. Those two would soon come under the tutelage of Orton, and Rhodes in particular learned the importance of character projection, a lesson that he would adopt as his career progressed.

Nearly 20 years later, and Rhodes has evolved. He is not just the WWE Champion; he is one of the promotion’s biggest draws. Orton obviously has also had his fair share of success in the intervening years, but seeing his former understudy become the beloved hero for once must sting at his ego.

That may be the motivator behind Orton’s recent heel turn. To “The Viper”, Rhodes is still the naïve “young lion” whom he took under his wing long ago. Beating Rhodes validates that notion.

Alas, that is apparently too bland for today’s corporate-driven WWE. Hence, Jelly Roll’s recent involvement, which saw him eat an RKO while trying to play peacemaker between Orton and Rhodes last week. Now, with McAfee joining the fray, one of WrestleMania 42’s biggest storylines might be decided by non-wrestlers, just as Travis Scott influenced Rhodes’ match with John Cena nearly a year ago.

It is tacky and unnecessary – clearly a TKO-influenced move that only demeans the industry and its workers who have sacrificed their well-being to act out narratives for the fans’ enjoyment.

A Nonsensical Reason For An Alliance

Of course, there is also why McAfee is aligning with Orton in the first place – to return WWE to the days of the Attitude Era. In other words, the days of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The problem is, neither of them can be associated with the Attitude Era. Orton did not get his big break until the Ruthless Aggression Era, after The Rock and Austin left. McAfee, meanwhile, may have grown up idolizing the Attitude Era in his youth, but he first became involved in wrestling only in the New Era.

What is even more nonsensical is what McAfee claims has been “ruining wrestling,” to quote Cena. “Two 5’5″ guys doing a45-minute Iron Man match ten weeks straight for no reason?” When has that even happened? If anything, most matches in today’s WWE are actually shorter, with much airtime dedicated to promos and backstage segments.

In essence, McAfee is ranting about nothing. If anything is “ruining wrestling,” it is TKO’s need to constantly involve celebrities like him in top-tier wrestling programs.

End Of My Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton Rant

It is no secret that WWE under the TKO era has, in the fans’ eyes, become one of the greediest and least considerate entertainment organizations in the world. The aforementioned celebrity involvement is not the only indictment against it, but it is arguably the biggest.

That is not to say celebrities should never be involved in wrestling. After all, sometimes the industry needs to elevate its profile. IShowSpeed’s recent episode with LA Knight may be seen as tacky, but ultimately nothing is at stake, except maybe personal pride.

The problem arises when it occurs in title programs, especially main-event ones. One surely remembers David Arquette, whom WCW did not need to make its World Heavyweight Champion, but did so anyway to promote a film, to disastrous results. While WWE will obviously not be doomed if Jelly Roll or Pat McAfee influences the outcome of Rhodes-Orton, will fans really want to stomach celebrity interference for a second straight year?