Cody Rhodes has elevated Randy Orton into an elite tier of professional wrestlers.
Rhodes and Orton share a long history, having been teammates in Legacy alongside Ted DiBiase Jr. during Cody’s early WWE days. Their bond has evolved from alliance to rivalry, with Orton frequently delivering brutal attacks on Rhodes.
In a recent interview with SPORF’s James Sweetnam, Rhodes discussed why Orton fits into the “golden circle” concept originally coined by Arn Anderson.
“Arn Anderson used to refer to it as the golden circle of wrestlers,” Rhodes explained. “It’s really tough. I always struggle when discussing GOATs or Mount Rushmore because there are so many legends with so much history. I love the game and constantly watch it, both old and new.”
Rhodes suggested the group might be restricted to just three names, with both Orton and John Cena fitting into that elite category.
“He’s in that golden circle—a count-on-one-hand list—and it might only be three people,” Rhodes continued. “But with someone like John Cena, you know you’re competing with someone who has an incredible career, a lasting legacy, and the ability to deliver greatness on any given night.”
Rhodes noted that Orton’s ability to peak at any given moment makes him an incredibly unpredictable opponent.
“The RKO out of nowhere is the whole point,” Rhodes said. “But one of the most unpredictable things about Randy is that on any given night, he could be the best version of himself. You just hope you’re better than him.”
Rhodes acknowledged the emotional difficulty of competing against someone he once admired and learned from.
“The last thing you want to do is wrestle someone you loved, revered, and learned from, and the last thing you want to do is be the one to beat them,” he explained. “I appreciate the pressure, but it’s a bit of a downer. So he’s definitely in that golden circle.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Rhodes touched on his early acting experiences and his upcoming role in the Street Fighter movie.
“Honestly, I’m new to this, wanting to tell stories, but not always wanting to take a fall like we do in pro wrestling,” Rhodes said. “One of the warmest ways to enter this world was through Street Fighter, which is coming out next month—it’s so good.”
Rhodes praised director Kitao Sakurai for creating a film that he believes will resonate with longtime fans across the franchise’s various iterations.
“Kitao Sakurai did an amazing job,” Rhodes said. “I think for fans of all its lore—whether graphic novels, anime, the old movie, or just the games—he’s done something for everyone and told a story unique to our time. It was a beautiful experience.”
Before filming Street Fighter, Rhodes made a brief appearance alongside Liam Neeson in The Naked Gun. He recalled asking Brandi Rhodes if he should accept the opportunity despite the travel.
“I asked Brandi, ‘Do you think I should do this? It’s just one day, hard to get back, but it’d be amazing,'” Rhodes said. “She said, ‘Well, I mean, he’s a Jedi.'”
Rhodes noted that he and Brandi immediately thought of Neeson’s role as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars, rather than the actor’s other acclaimed performances.
“We didn’t think about Schindler’s List or his other amazing movies,” Rhodes said. “We just thought, ‘Oh, it’s Qui-Gon Jinn. He’s a Jedi.’ And, of course, I did it.”
Rhodes described Neeson as gracious and said the experience provided a welcoming introduction to acting.
“We were able to banter a bit, and then to see the movie and know that bit made it in—it was a really warm way to enter this world,” Rhodes said. “Now we’ve got some potential big projects with Street Fighter and beyond that I’m really excited about.”