Cody Rhodes sits down with Randy Orton to discuss their longstanding history, the greatest wrestlers of all time, and more presented by Wheatley American Vodka. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.
Stream WWE on Peacock https://pck.tv/3ZTjVE7 in the U.S. and on WWE Network http://wwe.yt/wwenetwork everywhere else
———————————————————————
Follow WWE for more exciting action! – Subscribe to WWE on YouTube: http://wwe.yt/
———————————————————————
Check out WWE.com for news and updates: http://goo.gl/akf0J4
Watch WWE on Sony in India: http://www.wwe.com/SonySportsNetwork
Watch WWE on Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia: http://www.wwe.com/hotstar
Watch WWE on Shahid: http://www.wwe.com/yt-shahid
Find the latest Superstar gear at WWEShop: http://shop.wwe.com
———————————————
Check out these other channels!
———————————————
WWE Vault: http://www.youtube.com/@WWEVault
WWE Español: https://www.youtube.com/@wweespanol
UpUpDownDown: https://www.youtube.com/upupdowndown
Celtic Warrior Workouts: https://www.youtube.com/@CelticWarriorWorkouts
WWE Music: https://www.youtube.com/wwemusic
————————————
WWE on Social Media
————————————
X: https://twitter.com/wwe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wwe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwe/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwe
————————————
Ladies and gentlemen, this is
the American nightmare, Cody Rhodes. We are on my home away from home,
the tour bus. Today we are in Los Angeles,
California, the city of angels. And today, I have quite the guest. 14 time world champion, the youngest
world champion in company history, my mentor in the industry,
the legend killer, the viper. We could continue to have a bazillion
positive platitudes about this next person I am incredibly excited. Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome Randy Orton. What’s going on, man? >> I appreciate that. Hey, cheers, man. Cheers.
>> Cheers to you. >> Thanks for having me do this with you. >> No, this had to do it with you. >> Had to. >> So the wheatley crew,
wheatley American vodka. Myself, we like to call ourselves
the American dream team. Let me ask you right out of the gate,
if you were putting a team together, who is on Randy Orton’s American
dream team? >> Gosh, what a question. Well, I pride myself on being a good
father and a good husband and I think I would have to have
my family there in my corner. >> That’s a great. >> I got three dogs at home, too. They gotta be there, too. So, Spike, Harley, Max,
Rob, Mike Anthony, Alana, Brooklyn and my fabulous wife,
Kim, would be there by my side. >> Cheers to family. Cheers to Kim. >> Hell, yeah. >> Wow
>> I think we do all right. I would just keep Kim in there and
she would just do everything. She’s badass. Well, you said you’re father,
husband first, you’re also notoriously on
the list of wife guys, right? Once you’re in the wife guy column. >> Yeah. You, myself, Seth Rollins, Miz. That’s a good column to be in. >> Yeah.
>> Like that. >> Never thought about it like that, but. >> Yeah. >> When I was younger,
I wasn’t in the wife column, and it was a different way of going
about my day, let’s just say. And I’m very happy to be in that column. I’m blessed, man. I really am. >> I feel funny that I’ve said this, and now if you’re not on the list of people
I just said, it doesn’t mean you’re not. It’s not what I meant. Just there’s guys that,
you know, more as, like, he’s. You know, you might see Kim, you might
see Maurice, you might see Brandy, whatever it might be. >> Yeah Owens. He’s big time, big, great,
big family guy, yes. If I know a man is great to his children,
and especially, like, I got a soft spot for daughters. If I know a man is like, who did I see? I saw Champa with his
daughter Willow today. >> Unbelievable. >> And just seeing a man with his
daughter, that relationship, like, I love my sons, but there’s something special about a daughter
being a father and having a daughter. >> Yeah, no, I know that if you know. >> Yeah.
>> Well, Brandi and I were gonna ever have a second whatever, then that’s not something
that’s happening. But if it was. >> Well, you don’t know that. >> I don’t know that. >> Let me tell you. Sometimes things happen, and
next thing you know, honey, I’m pregnant. >> Yeah.
>> Like, you don’t necessarily plan for these things, bro. >> I would be ecstatic if I found
out it was another little girl. >> Yeah.
>> Because that’s just a whole. >> Yeah. >> My gosh. Like, level of there’s just a thing. >> Yeah. >> You sent me a Christmas card. >> Yeah. I’m trying to remember. Is that the one we’re all wearing
gold chains like gangsters. >> It’s such a good photo. >> Everybody’s like. >> But it’s such a good photo But you. >> But what? Wait a minute. It’s such a good photo. >> But.
>> I remember looking at and thinking like, they look like
a band they’re about to put out. >> Well, that’s my wife. She’s like, okay, I want you here. I want you.
Okay, you look up into the distance. I need you here. No, I turn a little bit to your left. You a little bit to your right. All right, Brooklyn. All right, do this. Randy, sit there. Okay, fine. Whatever you want. >> Man.
>> Yeah, she’s in charge. >> It’s a if I’m gonna get a Christmas
card, I want it to look like that. >> Yeah.
>> That’s the standard which all Christmas cards are held. >> Pretty. >> All black shirts. >> Yes. >> I think it was gold chains. >> We all had gold chains and
the cuban link. I just got when the boys
when they had the birthday, I got them all a cuban link chain. >> Yeah. >> Sterling silver. Those things are expensive. >> Yeah, of course. >> I got the yellow gold one for
myself, and I’ve worn it. Yeah, dude, you see me in it all the time. >> Yes. >> I had to have it for
some crazy ass reason and I wore it for that Christmas card and then I wore it
to the hall of fame and I was so, like, I guess embarrassed to be wearing a gold
chain that I tucked it under my shirt so no one could see it. And Wale was there, and he, like, he saw,
like, a glint of this on the side. He pulled it out. He’s like, man, you gotta show your chick. So for the rest of the hall of fame,
I’m wearing my suit, my gentleman’s playbook suit,
which homie makes a great suit. >> Shout out to that gentleman’s playbook. >> Yeah, he’s, he’s good to go. >> I love a good somebody
put something good together. >> Quick little story. Sitting at the hall of fame it’s about,
we’re about to go live. Paul’s about to go on first. And I sent him a quick shot of me and
my wife just so that he could see what it looked like. Cause I’ll be like, hey, does this work? Does this work? Because I don’t, no. And I was like, hey, man,
this chain it’s out of nowhere, I’m wearing this chain, right? Does this work? And he’s like, yeah, it works. He tweeted picture. >> That was I gotcha. >> Well, from the get go,
I’m talking, like, 2018, 19. He started making my suits, and he was
like, hey, let’s do social media thing, take a picture. I’ll take $500 off the suit. I’m like, hehe no. >> I’d rather pay. >> I’d rather pay you and
let’s not do that. He tweeted the picture I took like,
the, just a little, the candid shot. Like, not a great angle. Like, just, hey, does this work? He tweeted it. I couldn’t believe it. But anyway.
>> Yeah, free suit out of it. >> No, but next year,
if this makes the cut, I better. >> I mean, if you want it in there. You mentioned the hall of fame and
this was such a fun moment. The hall of fame this year for
me, Washington just surreal for on a lot of levels,
Rock is talking about something and then decides to turn and start cutting
a promo on me and this is the Rock. And I’m do I stand up? I stood up. Now when do I sit down? Also, Brandy refused to stand up for him. You know, everybody stands up. She refuse him. You’re the only one. >> That’s great. The heat. >> Yeah. >> Which is her personality. >> Brandi’s gonna do
what Brandy’s gonna do, just like Kim’s gonna do what
she’s gonna do and you know what? I support you, honey. >> Very right or die. >> You wanna stay right there,
that’s fine. >> But Paul Heyman, mister Heyman, he had a very unique line
in his hall of fame speech. And you, literally, the whole front row of
us, you turned to me and Hunter, I think. >> Gave Hunter a look like. It was one of those. This is what and to be fair,
Philadelphia Paul Heyman. >> Sure. Anybody can say that specific sentence,
In that moment, it’s him. We’re in Philly, the birthplace of ECW. Right? And it worked. It’s what it needed to be. He wanted to go on first. He’s so smart. >> He’s a super genius. He’s so smart. >> He talks about. You’ll hear him talk about Dusty and a few other people where they refer
to themselves as super geniuses. He genuinely checks the box for
the super genius. It’s like he sees where
the puck is going at all times. He knows where to be,
shout out to Mr. Hammond. His line,
>> Hell, yeah. >> So
we’re talking about the hall of fame. This is perfect. Perfect time for me to ask you. You are more than, like,
you’re aware now, right? I feel you’re aware that your
level of influence, your legacy, your career, is demanding of
a first ballot hall of Famer run. Like, if you told them today,
hey, I want to be eligible for the hall of fame, you would go into
the hall of Fame with that in mind? Who would induct you? >> My God. Gotta really think on it, too. This is. No, I thought about it. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. So, well, first off, So Mysterio went in, but he was active. >> Yeah.
>> Like, and that was cool, it was different I think we
were in somewhere down LA. >> Was 39 he went in for. >> Where were we? >> We were at Crypto Arena, Los Angeles. >> Okay, Yeah. >> Los Angeles. >> Same place right now. >> Right now. >> So it kind of made sense for
a lot of reasons, he’s from that area, but, like, it just the fact
that he was still active and he had to show up to work the next day,
and I feel like if I’m lucky enough
to be in the hall of fame, I would want it to be when
things are settled and over. Yeah. >> No priorities, you hit that. >> Yeah. I feel like that’s how
it has to come about. But as far as. Gosh, I almost even don’t want to say
because I feel like he’d hear this and then feel obligated,
but, like, maybe John. >> So I was gonna go ahead and
say, I have a guess. >> Yeah, John and so
there’s a few reasons, selfishly, because I know that he would
knock it out of the park. >> My gosh yeah. >> He would just like he’s done,
he’s done a few inductions and he’s, refrigerator Perry,
the football player. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, he did. I remember just being, and
I don’t really follow sports. I wasn’t aware who that man was,
but, afterwards. >> He was in the WrestleMania too,
battle Royale. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he’s in our hall of fame now. >> In our hall of fame. >> Well, Cena inducted him,
and just sitting there and watching John just do what he does,
like, I was just completely captivated. I know John could do me better
justice than just about anybody. Cause John’s John. Of course, there’s other candidates, but I feel like John would be
at the top of my list. But I almost hate even saying it
out loud because I can’t imagine how busy that dude is with
everything he’s got going on, I have a tendency to
sell myself short with, and I feel like,
maybe he would love to do it, you know? But I don’t know that I could ask him,
what I’m saying? And I almost don’t even want to
think about it until we get. Until that time comes, if it comes. >> John, I feel like history
when we look at John and we look at you, because I came
right up in the thick of it. >> Yeah. >> Live event, main event. John Cena and Randy Orton going into
the interval, going into a mission. Umaga versus Jeff Hardy. It was the show you wanted to be on,
right? Because you knew, hey,
if I suck, these guys got it. Like, if I suck the rest of the matches,
we were filled with blind spots at the time because
we had these anchor moments. And you versus John is particularly
a big part of that era. And then you hear people clamoring for
the potential John match now, as he’s gonna wind down. But I feel like more than ever I could be. And this is a guess, but
I feel like more than ever, John has an incredible appreciation for
you, because as you guys are coming up, you’re at odds, even though you. You don’t need to be at odds, but you are. You’re competing behind the scenes,
you’re competing on the scene. Yeah, the whole thing. And I think now,
looking at where you’re at, and how you’re handling being
the locker room leader, handling. Being the most mature man in the room,
the handling. Being the person you would go to. To go, hey, what is this? No, but it’s the truth. Like I told. So I told Kim this in gorilla position. You were doing a dark match. No, it was you versus Gunther. And I remember telling her, I was like,
I don’t know if he’d like to hear this. But that was the way I felt
about Undertaker in, like, 2007 and eight and where it was like,
gosh, dude, watch it. It’s like watching this Jedi master
do stuff and you didn’t, you know, you take it for granted and
then you don’t know how long you have. But all that said, I feel like
you don’t even have to ask John. I feel like it’s there. Gosh, now. But even that’s like the positive, that’s the John Cena could induct
you potentially in the hall of fame. But John’s winding his career down. Right?
Are we okay to ask, like, you’d like to step in there
with him one more time? >> 100%, funny story. Last week, so I saw John before
he went and did his speech, his retirement speech there, and
I hadn’t seen him in a while, so it was kind of as I didn’t
know he was going to be there. Hey, John My God, hey, what’s up? We’ll be caught up for like ten minutes. And towards the end of the conversation, I was like, hey, what do you think? And I had no idea that he was going
to like, well, what do you say? Between 30 and 40 dates, the six mania
is his last mania, all that stuff. And so I had no idea, like, for
all I know, he’s going to be around, like me for as long as his
body will permit him to, but of course he’s got other things going,
and this is my life. So I hats off to him doing
the Hollywood thing. Like, if I could, I would, but
I’ve got other priorities, that takes a lot, and I don’t think I have
it to give, but I said, what do you think? And he was like, Randy,
I’ve never pitched anything. Like, I always do my best with
whatever they give me, and I’m like, man, that’s me. I’ve never had a pitch. I’ve never, like,
set myself up to be let down. And they were like, hey,
writers, here’s a six page, storyboard of everything I want to do for
the next six months. Not once, not once. And I’ve always been very fortunate, and they give me what they give me,
and I do the best I can with it. And that’s kind of what he does. >> Yeah, 100%. >> So when I brought it up to him,
I felt kind of like a mark, like, hey, do you want to do one more? And he shut it down right away and
said if I. Creative comes up with it,
we’ll do it kind of thing. And I said, well, so what do you. What’s your speech about? And he’s wait and see. And it’s typical John. >> Yeah. >> Watch the show to
see what I have to say. I’m retiring buffoon. [LAUGH] I had no idea. But [COUGH] I would love to work with
the man and have a couple TVs or more to set it up and
really make something special of it. Because no matter how much we
faced each other back in the day. Almost to the point where people were
sick of it, when people look back and think about it, they’re like, Orton Cena. Wow, it was this amazing rivalry,
and to have that callback, that nostalgia concept. And to do it for the fans,
who I feel like they’d appreciate it, and I, we go out there and
have some fun and tear the place down. And I would love to do that, but I guess,
according to John, we’re just gonna let it, if it organically happens, it’ll
happen, and, but I think it’ll happen. I think it’s in the cards. >> You said you guys have this history. You have more than the history,
though, as far as, okay. So coming up at the time,
Santino, Morella, myself, Beth Phoenix,
Zack Ryder, Rawl was flush. Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger, Miz. I could keep going. Rawl was flush with people who. They got a thing, but they don’t. They’re not there even. Do you remember Kirwan
from our production? >> Sure. >> One night, Kirwan got super
red wine drunk at the bar, and it was a random night that
I happened to be there. And I remember him telling me,
he’s man, Cody, you have the mind. You just don’t have anything else. And I thought, my God. Jeez, but he wasn’t entirely wrong. It was a matter of growing,
building, growing, building. He wasn’t entirely wrong. He was talking about
maturity earlier with me. And even though I would never
look in the mirror and say, you’re mature I would never
consider myself mature. But you’ve matured. You’ve come such a long way. And the things you’ve done,
no one has ever done. So, Hunter, what he said about punk
is what I always kind of stand by. He’s like, hey, if you’re the same as you
were seven years ago, that’s a bad thing. And I thought but back to what I was
saying this was, it was flush with people who had a thing and we’re looking
for it and trying to be a WWE superstar. Which was such a big thing at the time,
but the show was really just you and John. So I feel like it’s. Whether you say it, whether he says it,
whether the world’s already saying it, you’re on social media as
the world’s already saying it. So, maybe it is a see where the cards are. Enough about John. Talked enough about John. >> He’s the best. He’s the best. That crazy, weird mother. >> Yeah. >> I love him to death. I love him to death. Enough about John. And here I go. But, what is it? It’s not peacemaker, peacekeeper. >> Peacemaker.
>> Peacemaker, wow, what a role for that dude. That’s him. When they see. So I feel like he ad
libbed that entire series. Like, he is peacemaker. >> James Gunn and him have a really good
bit because I think James Gunn got him. >> Yeah. >> Got him, and
if you can get him, my gosh. Run with it. >> Yes.
>> He survived the kind of DC change, right. It’s changing now. And he survived it. And then not only that freaking. I had I attacks the most immortal combat. >> Yeah, me too. I shot him a text too. I don’t even know cuz he’s not,
he doesn’t I’m. I don’t know if you’re still a gamer. I think if you, about being a gamer. >> Yeah, that’s you now. Elden ring. >> [CROSSTALK]
>> I’ve got almost even, don’t even want to say I’m at. And now keep in mind this game came out
this, this February and in six months, seven, eight months, whatever February is,
it’ll be three years since it came out. And also let me preface this next
statement with saying that I was out with spinal fusion surgery, so
I had a lot of time on my hands. >> Sure. >> I’ve got like 600 hours on the game. >> 600 hours on Elden ring. >> Yeah, I love that game. DLC just came out. >> Here’s how far things have come. >> Yeah. >> You asked me something about
Elden ring the other day and I didn’t lie to your face. But I just kind of went, yeah,
you mentioned your playing and I was, I’m not really, I didn’t know. >> You don’t got the time. You’re killing it, and
you don’t got the time. And I understand why. I would love to chop it up
about some Elden ring with you. Trust me.
>> I wish I knew more about it. >> I wish you were a fellow tarnished,
but you’re not so. Tarnished, is that the vernacular? >> It’s a thing. Brother, I get lost in it. The kids go to sleep. I’ll give my wife the iPad and
say, hey, buy stuff on Amazon. And then I’ll just play. >> Yeah. >> God,
it’s like Christmas every day at my house. >> Cheers. >> [LAUGH]
>> My God. >> Amazon guy is all ding dong,
hey, Jim, stack of boxes. But she can find a deal anywhere. >> Yeah. >> She’s great. She always gets the deals. But, yeah, she buys while I play
Elden ring, and it’s a good. We were meant for each other. >> No doubt. I had, so
I was away from WWE at the time, and I started hearing these stories about,
Randy’s changed. And I thought, no, you don’t change Randy. What is he not blowing dynamite
up in the lobby anymore? Is he not, what is it? What do you mean he’s changed? >> Were you there in Mexico? >> No, I just heard that one. >> Jesus. >> I was there for, I’d say my favorite. >> Federales were after me,
Paul London and Brian Kendrick, and we jumped in a taxi. >> Of course. >> My God, and I had ditched the last. They were quarter sticks of dynamite,
and you could buy it down there in T. >> Yeah, I know. >> I ditched the last stick under the bus
that was taking us to the venue the next day, and we jumped in the taxi, and we were followed the entire
time by the Federales. Now, Paul London spoke a little
bit of Spanish, so he was guys, the cops are following us. And he talk to the driver, and he’s
saying take them here, take them here. And I was dying. Looking back now, he could have been
just really ripping the hell out of me. >> Yeah, it could have been, yeah. But we ended up making it back. And the next day, we’re,
loading the buses up, and I’m I look under the bus,
quarter sticks right there. I’m save that for later. And I think that’s the one that
blew up in the atrium of the hotel. >> This is such a deep cut here. But Paul London,
because you’re bringing him up, some of the things you discover
when you do independent wrestling, you discover some beautiful things in
terms of, man, such a great athlete. And, gosh, I bet I’ll see him one day on,
national TV, whatever it is. One show,
I didn’t really look at the card, and somebody had told me
earlier Paul London’s here. He’s wrestling right before you. And I thought, man,
Paul London’s super talented. That’ll be cool. I didn’t realize his independent bit
that he did, his gimmick was he sang. >> Wow.
>> So he was in a full body suit, and he sang a song for an entrance. And this was at a small building
of maybe 90 people, and I just thought like, what am I? >> When you say body suit,
what do you mean? >> It was a gray full bodysuit, like
a putty guy from the Power Rangers but his head was still exposed. >> Are you talking about like
the gimp from Pulp Fiction? >> I mean that’s another way to put it,
but it wasn’t as sexual as
the gimp from Pulp Fiction. But I remember it was still he went
out and had a great match as well. I remember thinking like, damn, this-
>> Paul’s amazing. >> Just exchanging false finishes and
cracking each other in the jaw. My gosh.
Yeah, no, you see some wild stuff. >> Paul London, god. >> Do you know that when I
was out upon that scene I had more questions about
you than anybody else? More questions about what was Randy like, how did Randy deal with this,
is this true? More questions about you to the point
where I’ve now taken my Randy stories and I keep them inside. >> You gotta keep some of them inside,
yeah. >> I shared a few of them and
I’m thinking, you didn’t get it. You didn’t get the,
you didn’t understand it. >> Yeah,
you might [INAUDIBLE] keep those close. >> I try to keep them inside. >> Wait until I retire to say them. [LAUGH]
>> Yeah, no, I’m ready to go on a whole
tirade about everything. All that, we’re far off from
where I was gonna ask you. We talked about this,
that, and this, that. You have a lot of public
mentors in the industry, public in terms of they were on screen,
they were with you at your side. This is a very, I guess, random question. Are there any mentors that we don’t
know about who were off screen? Are the ones we see on screen really,
truly the guys who kind of shaped and molded the character that
is Randy Orton today? >> Gosh, I hate to disappoint you so
I’m searching for an answer. >> No, I-
>> I think you know them all. >> Yeah?
>> I really do. Obviously my father, and Hunter, and Rick. And I told John this the other day
when we spoke, like I was saying, I learned a lot from him,
I kinda learned from John. It’s so weird saying it after how
many people I was in the ring with like the Takers, Shawns,
Triple Hs, Ric Flairs. But I think I learned from John to calm
the [BLEEP] down, listen to the people. And you don’t have to go in there
with a bunch of stuff memorized, you can literally just do something. It doesn’t have to be rocket science,
we make it harder than it needs to be. >> My gosh, yeah, yeah. >> Looking for a reaction, so it doesn’t
have to be this, that, the other, something, something, something,
something, something. It can just be grab a hold,
they start to come, hit the ropes. The bad guy takes the head off
the good guy, he goes down. The bad guy scowls and
looks at the people. The good guy knows his role, and
in that moment stays down and acts like he just got decapitated. And then you put that hold back on,
then you just wait and you get him to come again. And then you eventually get to
where he turns the tables and, you know what I mean? It’s just he really had a way
of making me realize, and maybe it was because we were close in age,
we had come up together. I think even though I trusted Triple H,
Ric Flair, and all those guys. But I think just the camaraderie
between me and John, being cool. I don’t know that those guys at that time
respected me, I think John respected me. >> Of course. >> And I think he respected me for certain
things I was capable of doing in the ring. And just feeling that respect from
him made me have this trust for him, that I could trust
him to lead the way. And I could trust him that
anything he’s telling me, it’s like it’s gold and
he’s telling me how he does it. And this is like a look into how
he’s able to go about a match, go about listening to people, go about making decisions depending
on what the people are doing. >> All about the people. >> Yeah, it really is, they’re completely just as much
a part of the show as you are. I mean if they’re not involved, then you’re not doing your job,
you know what I mean? >> From a mentor perspective,
it took a while in terms of seeing like, he was a mentor, she was a mentor,
or whatever it was. >> Sure.
>> It took a while for me to realize I’m very much
a product of three people. You, my first match in WWE. And someone who not just took my first
match was like, hey, drive me, hang out. You know what I’m saying,
hang out with me. So my first match in WWE. Triple H. >> Yeah. >> Who the biggest first rivalry I had, we just started talking stuff that I’d
never even considered or thought about. And he was saying things
that now today I’m like. >> Another genius. >> Super genius, for sure. >> Yeah, another one, yeah. >> And then John, who when I wasn’t riding
with you I was driving John around. This was during his cowboy John phase. >> I remember that. >> Sure, and none of it, the whole time I
was doing it I was I’m having a good time. >> You don’t realize. >> You don’t realize that’s
what the mentor was. >> Sure. >> You have your obvious mentors,
like your father. >> Right.
>> I had my dad, we had our obvious mentors. >> Of course. >> You have people that
when you hear it from them. >> Right. >> For example, I remember Sacramento,
California, I beat up Rey Mysterio. And I don’t know why, but you had heard
about what we were doing that night. And you told me, you’re like, man, just it’s all you, it’s all you,
believe in everything you’re doing. He’s gonna just be there,
you just keep hitting him, do this. If you feel like you’re right,
look at the crowd. And I legitimately, as I’m doing this,
this was a kind of, for me, a turning point segment. Shook hands with my dad, and my dad held
his hand, and I popped him from behind, I had the mask at the time. >> Goodness. >> And I was thinking about you as it was happening, and I’m thinking, man, he was right 14 times. Top of the mountain, 14 times. >> What’s weird is someone on social
media put together a clip that showed all the victories for
those titles, those 14 titles. And I watched it, and
just talk about a trip down memory lane. >> Yeah. >> My god,
I think I ended up following the person because I was just so
impressed and humbled. This person took the time to
put this together about me and the history of my career And
spanning over, I mean I won the IC title in 03,
so I mean 20 years. >> The [INAUDIBLE] you had. >> 20 plus 3, 20 plus years, and
just seeing it take place and it’s It’s like, I remember that. That’s right. In 2010, I was like, whatever it was,
six, seven, eight-time champ, and I’m like, well, then where do
the other five or six come from? >> Yeah.
>> And then I’m watching, and it’s like, man, they add up, and it’s 14. Like, it’s insane to look back and
think, like, everything I’ve done,
it’s just been so long, Cody. Somebody was giving me some statistics. >> Yeah. >> And so I’ve officially, Kane had wrestled the most pay-per-views,
or we call them PLEs now. >> Yeah. >> I’m so old school,
I can’t stop calling him pay-per-view. >> Pay-per-view yeah [INAUDIBLE]
>> I can’t stop calling him pay per views. So, Kane had wrestled the most
pay-per-views in the company, and it was, like, 172 or
thereabouts, and so I surpassed him, like, six months ago. And so in the entire history of the WWE, I’ve been on more PLEs
>> Yeah. >> Or pay-per-views than anybody else. And it’s like, that’s what I’m here for, is those kind of statistics,
like, I don’t need. >> We can’t deny those. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it’s time. It’s just putting in the work. Putting in the work,
consistency, consistency. Yeah, you get some downtime,
you get injured, you get suspended once, twice, three times, whatever. You come back and you just keep doing
it and you do it, and you do it. And just that statistic right
there it means a lot to me. And the 14-time
World Heavyweight Champion, like, knowing that I’ve held that
title 14 times, or those titles, I should say 14 times accumulatively,
that means a lot to me, you know? >> Yeah. >> And this is my life father,
husband, first and foremost. But this is right there and so
I do auditions here and there. >> Yeah. >> And I remember I got
an audition early on when I finally got some representation
in that industry, and I think Deadpool 2
>> Cable. >> Cable. I read for Cable, and in my head,
boy, I was gonna be Cable. >> Yeah. >> I was gonna be Cable,
and I was like, this is it. Nope, no callback, no nothing. Yeah, thanks. You know, Josh Brolin gets it. >> Of course, Josh Brolin gets it. >> [LAUGH]
>> Kills it. I don’t know what I’m doing. >> That’s a great job. >> And I think I kind of realized then,
like, okay, so I can send in these auditions. But I’m a pro wrestler. >> Yeah.
I think I really enjoy being a pro wrestler and
everything that has given me, and I don’t think I’ll ever leave this place [LAUGH]
>> Cheers. >> Yeah. >> Cheers for that. >> Cody, I’m happy about that,
I really am. >> Of course.
>> I feel lucky like, my wife talks about, you’re in the bubble,
you’re in the bubble. But yeah, I like it. I like it. I like the bubble. I don’t have any friends at home. When I was out for 18 months,
this is what I was gonna say. When I was out for 18 months,
I went through, like, a little bit of a depression. >> Of course you’re away from that. >> Yeah, but I was depressed and
I have my family, I have my kids. I’m smiling when I see my kids and
doing stuff, and I’m with my dogs and everything’s great, but
I was missing something. >> Were you making a lot of Nutella? So I never even, this is small. I never even heard of Nutella. I don’t know what I was thinking. He brought it up on a tour,
not what, like, six months ago. >> I stole a bottle of
Nutella from catering, >> [LAUGH] >> And consumed the entire thing before my match with Gunther and probably gained,
like, nine pounds that night. >> You were full. >> I was sugared up to the gills, yeah. I want a Nutella deal. You’ve got
the Wheatley American Vodka deal. I want a Nutella deal. So I’ve been consuming a lot of Nutella,
hence the 290 pounds. See those traps? That’s Nutella, bro. >> Cannot see them. >> That’s because I’m wearing-
>> Traps provided by Nutella. >> I wore traps provided by Nutella. I wish I would have known that there
was a dress code for this interview. >> There is no dress code. >> I feel like we’re going to church
I feel like I’m gonna get yelled at. I feel like you’re always in a suit. How are you not sweating? >> A lot of people hate
that I’m in the suit. >> You just turned off
your air conditioning. >> Yeah.
>> Because of the sound. >> You wanna know the secret? >> No, I don’t. >> I don’t move that much,
that’s the secret. I rode a camel in Egypt on a full suit. >> I don’t believe you. >> I just don’t move that much. Try to keep my [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGH]
>> So I’m burning up. Do I move a lot? >> Yeah, you big dynamic motion. You’re kind of always you might as
well be doing this thing, you know? You’re doing-
>> [INAUDIBLE] my shoulder out [LAUGH] >> [LAUGH] So okay 14th dime world- >> You’re moving right now. >> 14th dime world. >> Okay, better. >> Conversation going
around about the GOAT. Greatest of all time, right? It’s what we call John
greatest of all time. But there’s a GOAT conversation, just like
in all sports they talk about LeBron, Michael, all the different things and
the stats. >> Of LeBron. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. >> All right, we’re hot. We’re all hot. >> Yeah. >> How do you feel knowing
you’re in that conversation? >> So I think,
like what are we doing this for? Like yeah, we enjoy it, right? >> Yeah. >> Like, the fans are just as big,
just as much, I should say, as part of the show as we are. >> Yep. >> I can’t take the credit. I don’t think there is a GOAT. I don’t think that there is a GOAT. >> Single GOAT yeah. >> I like the mountain Rushmore. I like Hoosier Mount Rushmore. I like Hoosier’s top five, top ten. >> Yeah. >> Even top 20. But the GOAT, I don’t think he exists. Now, for each individual fan who’s just
as much part of the show as we are, they have their own perspective,
>> Yeah. >> And it’s subjective to how they feel,
what that talent makes them feel. So I think that there’s 100 GOATs. There’s 150 and 250 GOATs. I don’t think there’s a GOAT. >> I love this answer. >> Yeah, I’m sorry. In professional wrestling,
there’s not a GOAT. Who’s your GOAT? So who’s my GOAT? >> Yeah, who’s yours? >> You could ask me that.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah, I can answer [LAUGH] [INAUDIBLE]
>> Yeah, I can answer. Greatest of all time to me, my father was one of the best,
like, back in his era. >> Yeah. >> One of the best in his era as far as,
like, making guys look good, selling. To me, a guy who sells better
than everybody else is a GOAT. Now he’s making the guy
who’s the GOAT look good. >> Who’s really the GOAT? >> Who’s really the GOAT? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, you know what I mean?
So, like, the whole GOAT talk, >> You’re in the conversation, right? I feel like, for you,
maybe that’s uncomfortable because for all the things that the legend killer and
Randy and all this actually incredibly grounded,
kind, humble, aware, Which is probably the one
attribute most wrestlers never get to is awareness of,
like, how over am I? How over is he? What can I do? And when you’re aware,
>> We need a psychiatrist here, brother. >> My gosh. >> Yeah, [INAUDIBLE]
>> Not a bad idea. >> It would be remiss of me because
I had a bazillion questions and [INAUDIBLE]
>> I have some more. >> I got a few out, but
I do need you to know. >> [COUGH] I know you
don’t even have to say it. >> No, it’s important to say it. I get to be here because of you, you know? And I remember very vividly almost everything from Legacy. And there was a good side of legacy. >> Yeah.
>> Which was you. And you had plenty of things going
on in your life at the time. I remember the first thing you
did was bring us into the stands to have a conversation with us
about what you wanted it to be. And, man, was taking this real serious,
like, we got to take this serious, too. My gosh. >> Yeah.
>> Because, I mean, nine months before that, I had a picture
of you on my wall in my room like, there’s a second generation that made it. And when I say second
generation that made it I’m not trying to belittle other second or
third generations, but making it as a second generation
means matching or exceeding. You know what I’m saying like matching or
exceeding? I feel like it’s a thing people don’t
understand about a son or a daughter is you wanna be your father, mother,
whatever, but you also wanna be better. You wanna carry their name further,
either way. I had this picture of you on
my wall in my apartment in LA. Nine months later, I’m in this group with
you and you’re taking it so seriously. And at the time, I feel like in your life, there’s been
all kinds of stuff that’s happened. And you mentioned the peaks and
valleys of the business, but I always told people, I said,
as a mentor and as a person of, I’m slightly responsible for him and
her, you really took it seriously. You genuinely did. And I never cared if you made
fun of us behind the scenes or they don’t know they’re idiot. I never cared because-
>> Can I do that? >> No, I don’t think you did. >> [LAUGH]
>> I kind of thought, like, maybe he doesn’t like us, but,
>> God, I loved you. >> On the surface, though, I thought,
like, he is really good at this. And again, like,
>> I was 29, I didn’t know what the, I was-
>> You weren’t even 30? >> No.
>> And I get to stand in the ring with you at the Royal Rumble when you had your
little freak out about the sign not blowing up. And great moment, by the way. >> [LAUGH] I feel like if you haven’t
told that, you should tell that. Well, [CROSSTALK]
>> The Royal Rumble is one of those matches where I feel it genuinely
changes your life to win. It genuinely does,
because you become the North Star for WWE. You become this thing
that they’re fixated on. You’re guaranteed for
WrestleMania, whatever it is. And I remember we helped you win it. And then you’re supposed to point at
the sign for WrestleMania 25 star, it’s a big star and
the pyro didn’t go off. So I’m thinking, this is one of
the greatest moments of your life, and you’re pointing at the sign, and Stu, the
cameraman, who we still have here today, a wonderful guy. >> Love him.
He’s banging the mat, telling you, keep pointing, keep pointing. And you looked at him and go,
what do you want me to do? Point at this sign? And you start, like, making fun of him. And then finally [LAUGH]
Pyro starts going off, like, as this conversation’s happening. >> Yeah.
And even with all that, I remember thinking, like,
man, I’m so lucky to, silly as this is, to see this and
be in the ring and be part of this. I ended up winning two Royal Rumbles,
and, man, two of them. And every time I think about you,
every time, because I’m like, dude, he was just right. And you know what I like? Here’s what I like about you being such
a big part of the youth of my career. Nobody else was saying
what you were saying. You invested the time and
the interest and the effort in me, and I feel like the only way you
can ever pay that back is like, I gotta prove him right. I gotta prove him right. Like, we’re saying we’re to,
you know, we’re the next thing us, you don’t pay dues like,
all these things that legacy was saying. And I’m thinking,
my God I have to make him right. And that’s always been
a really exciting moment for me when we do the stuff we do today on TV,
just in general, like, Modern SmackDown, Modern Raw. Whenever you and I do anything,
I have really bad imposter syndrome. I’m sitting there and most of the time,
I’m looking at you like, my gosh, this is my guy. >> We have all. We all have [INAUDIBLE]
>> We all [LAUGH] yeah. >> Yeah, trust me, trust me. >> I sit there and I look at you,
I’m like, this is the guy who said, hey, he’s cool. He’s good.
He gonna make it. He’s gonna be all right. There is a limited number
of people I can say, like, 100% nothing would have
happened without this person. You’re 100% nothing would have
happened for me without you. Just whether you wanted to,
whether you cared to do it or not, you took this chance on me. And it’s been super. There’s a photo of us at WrestleMania,
it’s framed in my house. It’s you just looking up at me. And to me, it’s like,
it’s the greatest thing. >> Right.
>> Because it was like, man, I proved him right. I didn’t I didn’t let him down. >> Tenfold yeah. >> Sorry I-
>> No, no, no, no, no, no, no, yeah,
I didn’t think this was gonna be, like, this [LAUGH]
>> Sweet-American [INAUDIBLE] >> No, [LAUGH] I’m so proud of you, dude. Legitimately so proud of you. When you left, the balls,
it took for you to leave and then, like,
start from scratch kind of, but not. I mean,
that’s not the right way to say it, because you were Cody Rhodes,
but to do what you did, I could never have done what you did,
never, never. So, when I say I’m proud of you, I legitimately mean it. >> Man. >> And
watching your performances week in and week out God, the WrestleMania, the year before last where you didn’t win. >> Yeah. >> My gosh. >> Yeah. >> But then to see it finally come and
then with The Rock, probably the most recognized
guy in the world. >> Yeah. >> Wanted to come in and be the guy and
be a good guy, and he couldn’t. Because of you. >> Mm-hm. >> And then you came through,
and then you succeeded. God, the butterflies, the feeling
in my stomach watching the match. That’s the thing is,
like you did what no one else did. It’s getting all mushy in here. >> It’s quite all right. >> [LAUGH]
>> Quite all right. >> Thanks to Wheatley. >> Wheatley.
>> American Vodka. >> I know [LAUGH]. >> [LAUGH]
>> I wanna just before, cuz we do this little game here as
well that I gotta get you involved in. But before that,
Wheatley specifically has a drink for you. Do you know what makes up the viper? >> Yeah, yeah.
>> Vodka, lemonade, seeded jalepeno slices. This is Wheatley has named
this on your behalf. It sounds really, really good. >> You’re saying Wheatley
made a drink after me? >> They did, yeah. >> Holy,
I’m gonna go as soon as we’re off camera. I’m gonna find some jalapenos. >> Go find that, the viper. >> Yeah, yeah.
>> It’s a great drink, actually. >> Yeah, it sounds amazing. >> Seeded jalapeno. >> Lemonade’s got a little
bit of sugar in it? Just a little bit? >> Yeah.
>> Because we gotta, and then. >> Yeah, body provided by Nutella. We already know. >> [LAUGH] [INAUDIBLE]
>> I’m not counting my sugars. >> Yeah.
>> [LAUGH] or my carbs, or I don’t even know. I just eat Boys Nutella. You know what I’ll do? We’re done. I saw you shooting the look. >> No, no, I got the game for you [LAUGH]. It’s over here. >> [LAUGH] wait, you got the what? >> So here, I’ll show you. >> Go ahead, what were you saying? >> [LAUGH] I thought that was, Iggy, like. >> No, no.
>> Get him out off my bus [LAUGH]. >> [LAUGH] we’re not. >> [LAUGH]
>> It’s never gonna be that Iggy with you, ever. >> [LAUGH]
>> Okay, Wheatley American Vodka. They have a little jingle,
a little commercial. >> Yeah. >> And I’m gonna have you watch it. >> Okay.
>> And then at the end, I want you to add in. I’ll explain it to you
once you watch it here. >> Okay. >> Baka soda, Wheatley so
good at drinking. This song right here is the red,
white and blue. You got good taste. And you drink like it, too. Wheatley so good, I drink it neatly. Red, white and blue, baby. American Vodka. >> So what I’d ask you is,
Wheatley so good, I drink it neatly. Is their jingle on their slogan? If you had to put something
instead of neatly. Wheatley so good, I drink it. What would you put? >> Wow, so I’m immediately thinking of
different words that rhyme with neatly. >> It doesn’t have to rhyme. >> Yeah, so that’s what’s me up, Cody. >> [LAUGH] Okay, well, we’ve had.
Wheatley so good, I drink it weekly. >> Wheatley. >> Wheatley so good,
I drink it just completely. I think someone said discreetly,
and we instantly said, no, that doesn’t work for
what we’re going with. >> God. >> Wheatley’s so good, I drink it. >> With Nutella. >> That’s it, that’s the answer [LAUGH]. >> [LAUGH]
>> We haven’t talked about the goal conversation. We’ve talked about best in the world and
all of this. Here you are, 14 time world champion. You’ve made it clear you wanna keep going. You’ve also said something that’s
fairly significant to this interview, which I think is rather important,
that you said it. You said, I’m a pro wrestler. One of the things I liked
about my interactions with the Rock were that he does
all this other stuff. And at the highest level,
does all this other stuff. But I could look at him and
look into his eyes and go, pro wrestler. Right, but either, even with all that
said, you said you’re pro wrestler, fortune time world champion. There is very little, I think,
on paper that’s left to do in your mind, though, cuz that’s what’s
the most important here. What do you want to accomplish now? What’s the next thing? What’s that thing that would be
the next apex, the next peak? What is it that Randy Orton has left
to do in the wrestling space besides be incredible and beloved and
all those things that you will be? But what is the goal? What’s the task? >> I think,
to answer your question honestly, I think do this for as long as I can. >> Yeah. >> And make sure, and
we brought up my wife, Kim, on a couple occasions. She told me, she goes, when it’s time
to hang them up, I’ll let you know. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah, if this is when I need to hang him up, I don’t wanna go here. >> Yeah. >> Does that make sense? I don’t want to retire and
have a last match. And then leave the company and
have another last match and then another one and another one. Like, John,
we talked about Cena quite a bit. I feel like when he says,
this is my last Royal Rumble, this is my last elimination chamber,
this is my last WrestleMania. >> Yeah. >> He means it. >> Yeah. >> If anyone’s ever meant that, it’s him. >> Sure. >> I think I wanna follow suit. And I want when it’s all said and
done and it’s over, I want it to be over. So I wanna take it to that point, and then tear it down, and
then ride off into the sunset, man. >> Maybe an uncomfortable question,
but just a follow up. Cuz the answer makes
all sense in the world. There doesn’t have to be
an answer to this question. And new Randy and old Randy, as I kind
of have classified you as old Randy, probably would just get hot
at this question in general. New Randy,
I feel like we’ll try to answer it. Wheatley Randy,
we don’t know what’s gonna happen. >> [LAUGH]
>> You’re talking about the end, which I don’t see,
it’s not, I don’t see that. But who would you wanna wrestle
if you could pick somebody? >> So I’m 44. I’d like to wrestle at least until I’m 50. >> Okay. >> God, that makes me feel so old. But men have done it before me,
and tore the house down. >> Yeah, yeah. >> It depends who’s on top. If you were to ask me that question
now and I had to give you an answer, I’d say you. Five years from now,
maybe the answer’s different. But something tells me it won’t be. >> Not what I was expecting here. I’ll hold that very dear. And that is a wonderful way to close
what is by far [LAUGH] the best episode we’ve done of this show. >> [LAUGH]
>> So I cheers to you, cheers to that. >> To Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton,
2048, I don’t know. Make it up. >> I love it. >> [LAUGH] I love it. >> Ladies and gentlemen, Wheatley,
so good, I drink it with Nutella. >> [LAUGH]
>> Ladies and gentlemen, [LAUGH] again, we were blessed to have him. Randy, thank you so much. Much appreciated. I love you very much. >> Thank you, buddy.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you.
29 Comments
well Randy it came true, and it felt organic from a fans Point of view, and may happen again.
Oh by the way you RKO your son in the pool 😂❤
Mentioning Chiampa with Willow. I remember how much they went through to have her.
Summary: drink vodka with your bros and shed a manly tear
This is one of Cody's best episodes, thee most natural one I've seen, and I've watched him with Truth, his wife, and some others
I hope Randy allows himself to feel things and sit with all the emotions and let them out as needed 💕✨️
I love Randy with his wife, they are truly soulmates❤😂
Cody get tosta on your show . Or cena
Randy is real. He is a Champion
35:30 Rko and Nutella 😂
To me Randy is the most complete Wrestler in the History of WWE. GoaT
Cody Rhodes can also be seen in a featured film titled "The Naked Gun" starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson!
37:01 now I’m gonna watch the rest of this seeing how much Cody moves 😂😂😂😂
I CAN'T wait to see Dustin's episode, Paul's episode & Triple H's episode🤙🏽
I love the part of this show that’s just “Can Cody Rhodes get his tough friends drunk enough to get emotional with him” hahahahaha
Two of the best together🎉
Outstanding interview. Thks folks
The ads are unbearable
Does anyone know if these are uploaded on other platforms? (Spotify, apple etc.?)
Blows up dynamite in lobby… "were you there in Mexico?"
Randy naming his dogs before anybody is hilarious
RKO
He should have went for Jaxs (Francis), instead of Cabel
I would have never guessed Randy does not know how great he is Randy’s heat with LeBron is because LeBron big dogged the undertaker and Randy Orton should be on more mount Rushmore’s
Orton bringing up tarnished is my favorite thing ever. 🤣
“The Federales were chasing us” what??? lol
When I'm looking to define the opposite of toxic masculinity, I did NOT have a discussion between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton on my bingo card…BUT HERE WE ARE. The absolutely beautiful honesty and vulnerability between two of the best to ever do it? Perfection.
Randy as cable would’ve been awesome
Wheatley so good I don't hear voices in my head when I go to bed they don't talk to me, they don't talk to meeeahhh!