Cody Rhodes is a wrestling king in Georgia.
He won consecutive state championships in wrestling during his junior and senior years at Marietta’s Lassiter High School. As a professional wrestler, Rhodes hasn’t lost in his hometown of Atlanta since 2017. He’s also 3-0 at the city’s State Farm Arena, according to Cagematch records.
But Rhodes could get RKO’d off his throne when he faces his former best friend-turned-bitter rival, Randy Orton, as Sunday Night’s Main Event comes to State Farm.
Since returning
to WWE in 2022, Rhodes is 3-0 against Orton. In 2025, he defeated Orton in Saudi Arabia to become King of the Ring. At WrestleMania 42 this year, Rhodes narrowly beat Orton in the main event of Night One. Just last week, he defeated Orton again, this time at a live event in New Hampshire.
After Orton cost Rhodes his shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, Rhodes hinted he would end the legend of “The Legend Killer.”
While that’s how this feud may end, it isn’t likely to end this soon — and not on Peacock at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Instead, beating Rhodes on his home turf would turn this lopsided program around for Orton and extend their feud.
Then again, a violent beatdown after the match would do the same thing. With Rhodes’ Street Fighter movie set for release in October, Orton “putting Rhodes on the shelf” could conveniently coincide with Rhodes potentially taking time off to promote the film.
If that’s the case, Rhodes at least won’t have to travel far to go home and lick his wounds.
A Tricky Situation
As the card for Sunday Night’s Main Event takes shape, fans can expect Trick Williams to be part of the show.
Last week, a promotional poster for the event featured Trick Williams and his hype man Lil Yachty. A few days later on SmackDown, Williams attacked Baron Corbin, the man who defeated Williams for the United States Championship at SummerSlam.
WWE’s next big event might be a likely destination for a future rematch. But whether Williams is successful in regaining the gold is another question.
Following SummerSlam, WRKD Wrestling said that Williams would be “onto bigger and better things,” and that he was “an early pick for a potential Money in the Bank win.”
If Williams is indeed moving up, it doesn’t mean he can’t take the U.S. title — or a piece of Corbin’s hide — with him on his journey upwards.
Watch
Sunday Night’s Main Event streams live on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Peacock in the United States and on YouTube internationally.
