Backstage details on who will win the King of the Ring tournament – Cody Rhodes or Randy Orton

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are both favourites to win this year’s King of the Ring tournament. But who will take the crown home?

From the moment he returned to WWE draped in legacy and fire, The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes has stood tall as the company’s leading babyface—a merchandise machine, a crowd-puller, and the face of a generation. But now, storm clouds gather over the golden boy of Stamford, as creative tremors backstage hint at something darker: a potential heel turn.

Rhodes has largely played the hero since falling to Kenny Omega at NJPW’s G1 Special back in 2018. Even his controversial late-stage AEW run, filled with mixed crowd reactions and subtle villainy, never fully pushed him off the babyface cliff. But WWE’s current creative currents are swirling—and they may be pushing him toward that very edge.

Will Cody Rhodes win the King of the Ring tournament?

Last Friday, Cody began his third campaign in the King of the Ring Tournament, defeating Andrade, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Damian Priest in a hard-hitting Fatal 4-Way. Now he prepares to face Jey Uso in the semifinals on RAW, with a potential showdown against either Randy Orton or Sami Zayn looming large in the final at Night of Champions on June 28 in Saudi Arabia.

But here’s the twist: internal reports from The Wrestling Observer suggest that Randy Orton is not the planned winner of the 2025 KOTR as there are no long-term plans for him. It’s The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes who is the frontrunner as the potential winner of the tournament.

The former WWE Champion who lost his gold to John Cena at WrestleMania 41, might finally get a chance to reclaim it at SummerSlam!

Is Cody Rhodes going to turn heel?

WWE knows Cody may be booed—regardless of who he faces. In fact, they expect it. And in a world where fan reactions have the power to shift destinies, that’s a powder keg waiting to explode.

The Rock himself reportedly pushed for a Rhodes heel turn earlier this year. WWE leadership shot it down. Some even called it “the worst idea possible.” But WrestleMania 41 told a different story—Cena was the heel, yet it was Cody who felt the crowd’s wrath. If Saudi Arabia sings a similar tune at Night of Champions, WWE may have no choice but to listen.

While Rhodes remains the heavy favorite to win the 2025 King of the Ring, the path forward isn’t just about coronation—it’s about consequence. Because if Cody wears the crown, but walks into SummerSlam as the villain the crowd created, then we may just witness the birth of The Nightmare King.

Also Read: Unfortunate Update On Damian Priest

Rudra Alor

Rudra is a passionate sports fan and has expertise in WWE and Cricket. His interest in Sports and Writing have led him to become a Sports Journalist.

He has previously interviewed some top names like Baron Corbin and Johny Mundo, among others.