Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Rhodes to the Top
Chapter 2-Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton Non-Title Match
Jonathan Coachman was standing in the center of the ring, microphone in hand beside a gold cylindrical machine with balls twirling around inside of it.
"Tonight, I am the guest host of Raw, and while I can't make any championship matches before SummerSlam, I can make a main event for tonight. In this machine, are the names of every male superstar on the Raw roster except for the WWE Champion, Randy Orton, and those superstars on the injured list. I will select a superstar at random, and that superstar will face the champ tonight in a non-title match in the main event. If that lucky superstar beats Orton tonight, then he will earn a title shot against Randy at SummerSlam," Coach announced.
Coach stopped the machine, opened it up, and grabbed a ball out from inside of it. He opened the ball up, and inside of it was a slip of paper with the name of a Raw superstar.
"Tonight, Randy Orton will go one-on-one with…Cody Rhodes!" The Coach announced.
"Did you hear that, King?" Michael Cole asked.
"Wow! What a huge opportunity for young Rhodes tonight," Lawler replied.
"The question is will Cody reach for the brass ring tonight?"
Backstage, in the Legacy locker room, Legacy watched this on the television monitor there. Orton looked livid. Cody had a blank expression on his face. Dibiase looked thoughtful.
The WWE Champion was pacing back and forth when he suddenly stopped, and had a huge smirk on his face.
"I don't know what I was getting myself all worked up for. After all, it's not like you're going to actually wrestle me tonight, Cody. Let's face it. You can't beat me. So here's what you're going to do—you're going to go out there tonight, and just lay down," Orton said, before leaving the Legacy locker room.
After Dibiase was certain Orton was out of earshot, he decided to weigh in on the matter.
"Cody, if I were you, I'd give it all I got tonight. There's no telling when or even if you'll get another opportunity like this anytime soon," Ted commented.
"But Ted, you heard what Randy said," Cody replied.
"Yeah, I heard what Orton said, but you didn't see me lay down for him in my match, did you? That wasn't even for a title shot either."
"Look, the last thing I want to do is cause any dissension within Legacy."
"Do you remember when Orton punted your father, Dusty Rhodes, in the skull? Well, now's your chance for revenge. Think about it, Cody."
With that, Ted Dibiase left Cody Rhodes alone in the Legacy locker room to think about what he would or wouldn't do later in the night.
Later in the evening, Jerry 'The King' Lawler and Michael Cole were talking about the main event tonight.
"We're less than three weeks away from SummerSlam, and how about the main event coming up next?" Michael Cole remarked.
"The leader of Legacy, Randy Orton, the WWE Champion, will go one-on-one with fellow Legacy member, and one of Orton's protégés, Cody Rhodes," Lawler said.
"That's right, and thanks to tonight's guest host, Jonathan Coachman, if Cody Rhodes can somehow defeat Randy Orton here tonight in this non-title match, he will receive a title shot at SummerSlam."
Lillian Garcia was in the center of the ring with a microphone in hand.
"The following non-title match is set for one fall. Introducing first, from Charlotte, North Carolina, weighing in at 219 pounds, Cody Rhodes," Lillian announced.
Legacy's entrance music played, and Legacy's entrance video appeared on the Titantron. Cody made his way down to ringside. He still had battle scars from last week's steel cage match against Mark Henry. Rhodes had a band-aid on his forehead, and his ribs were bandaged up. The crowd didn't know who to cheer or boo this match; both superstars were heels.
"His opponent, from St. Louis, Missouri, weighing in at 245 pounds, he is the WWE Champion, Randy Orton," Lillian said.
Randy Orton's entrance music, "Voices," played as Orton's entrance video popped up on the Titantron. Some females in attendance screamed as Randy made his way down to ringside, but he mostly got boos.
The referee took the WWE Championship from Orton, and went to the side of the ring to hand it to Lillian.
The bell sounded.
"Do yourself a favor Cody, and just lay down like we talked about!" Orton screamed at Rhodes.
Reluctantly, the son of Dusty Rhodes laid flat on his back in the center of the ring. The audience didn't like this one bit, and showed their disapproval by booing Rhodes.
Orton went to cover Cody, but out of nowhere, Rhodes rolled Randy up in a small package. One. Two. The Legend Killer managed to kick out just before the count of three. The audience went wild upon seeing this; some people actually cheered for Cody.
As both men rose to their feet, Randy had a look of complete shock on his face. This was obviously not a part of the plan they had discussed.
Rhodes had his back up against the ropes when Orton charged at him. Cody dropped down, pulling the top rope with him, and Randy's own momentum carried him up and over to the outside floor. The crowd went nuts once again.
The WWE Champion slithered back in the ring, and ran towards Rhodes once again, but Cody was ready for him and caught him with a drop toe hold. He followed that up with an Oklahoma roll. One. Two. Randy managed to squirm his way out of that pinning predicament before the count of three.
Orton beat Rhodes up to his feet first, and connected with a swift kick to the taped up ribs of Cody. The younger man sank to his knees, clenched his teeth, and gasped for air while clutching his ribs.
The Legend Killer picked Cody up by his head only to knock him back down to the mat courtesy of a European uppercut.
Orton stomped on Cody's left ankle. Then, he stomped on Rhodes' right knee. Next, he stomped on his right wrist. Finally, he stomped Cody in the face. That was trademark Orton stomping every available appendage of his opponent's.
Randy came off the ropes and delivered a jumping knee drop to the face of Rhodes. He followed that up with a pin attempt. One. Two. Cody got his right shoulder up before the count of three. Orton shook his head in disapproval.
"Stay down, Cody!" Randy hollered.
The WWE Champion then locked in a wrenching chin lock submission hold on Rhodes. Cody gasped for air as he tried to pry Randy's arm off him, but to no avail.
The crowd started to rally behind Cody, and a "Cody!" chant started.
Rhodes got up to a vertical base and connected with a couple of elbows to the gut of Orton before Randy grabbed Cody by the head, and just slammed him back down to the mat.
He then dropped an elbow to the ribs of Rhodes. Orton got up and delivered a second one. Then, a third. Cody rolled on the ground in pain, clutched his ribs, and screamed out in agony.
Randy then mounted Cody and connected with three stiff punches to the head of Rhodes. The referee reprimanded Orton about opening up his fists.
Orton helped Cody to his feet when, out of nowhere, Rhodes surprised him with a schoolboy pin. One. Two. Another near fall.
Both men quickly got to their feet, but Randy met Rhodes with a stiff clothesline that turned him inside out.
Orton did something he doesn't normally do—go up to the top ropes. He stood there perched up on the top rope waiting for Cody to get to his feet.
When Rhodes did get to his feet, Orton connected with a huge cross body block, but Rhodes rolled through. One. Two. Almost a count of three.
As soon as both men were up to a vertical base, Orton tried for another clothesline, but Cody ducked underneath, and caught Randy with a crucifix pin. One. Two. Another near fall.
Rhodes beat Orton to his feet this time, and charged him, but Randy caught him with a kick to the midsection.
The Legend Killer came off the ropes, but was caught off guard with a power slam from Rhodes. Cody hooked the leg. One. Two. Randy got his left shoulder up just before the count of three. The youngest member of Legacy had a look of frustration on his face—he thought he had Orton beat.
This time, it was Rhodes who went up to the top rope as he waited for Randy to get back up to a vertical base. When he did, Cody went for a flying bulldog, but Orton ducked out of the way, and Rhodes landed back first on the mat.
Randy then dropped to the ground stomach first and started pounding both his fists into the mat. The viper was poised to strike.
Once Rhodes got to his feet, and turned around, Orton went for the RKO, but Cody reversed it into a backslide pin. One. Two. Orton just escaped at the last split second.
Both men rose to their feet, and Randy went for another kick to the midsection of Rhodes, but Cody caught his leg. The younger man followed that up with a back heel trip. He then went for a knee drop, but Orton rolled out of the way, and Cody grabbed his right knee in pain.
Randy, ever the opportunist, started stomping away at the right knee of Rhodes. Cody cried out in pain, and hugged his knee to his chest after the onslaught had stopped.
Orton then dragged Cody by the ankle across the ring, positioning his right leg on the bottom rope. Randy leapt up into the air and landed with all his weight on Rhodes' injured limb. Cody cradled his hurt knee.
The Legend Killer dragged Rhodes into the center of the ring and locked in a half Boston crab, exploiting Cody's right knee.
The son of The American Dream squirmed and clawed his way ever closer to the bottom ropes to force a rope break. Just when it looked like he was about to grab the bottom rope, Orton dragged Rhodes back to the center of the ring.
Cody bit his lip to stop himself from crying, and he bit his lip so hard, that his bottom lip started bleeding. Orton was really cranking back with the submission hold.
Ted's words from earlier repeated itself over and over in Cody's ear, "There's no telling when or even if you'll get another opportunity like this anytime soon."
The audience started getting behind Rhodes. Another "Cody" chant started.
Cody had been in the submission hold for over a minute now, and he looked like he was about to tap out.
"That's right! Tap out, Cody!" Orton yelled.
Rhodes dragged himself slowly but surely to the ropes. This time, he managed to grab the bottom rope, forcing a rope break. Orton had until the count of five to break the hold, and he broke at four.
Cody rolled to the outside.
Randy followed him, and went to pick Rhodes up by the head, when Cody grabbed Orton by the trunks, and threw him head first into the steel ring post. The blow busted the WWE Champion open.
The referee began to count both men out. One. Two. Three. Cody tried to stand, but fell back down. Four. Five. Orton still wasn't moving. Six. Rhodes used the ring apron to help pull himself up. Seven. Randy started to stir. Eight. Cody rolled into the ring. Nine. Orton somehow managed to get back in the ring as well.
Inside the ring, Rhodes was first to his feet. He hobbled on one leg over to Orton, and picked him up off the ground. Cody then set him up for his finisher—Cross Rhodes. Randy fought out with repeated forearm shots to the face.
Quickly, and suddenly, Orton nailed Rhodes with the RKO. The Legend Killer had a nonchalant cover on Cody, draping his back over Cody's stomach. One. Two. Rhodes got his foot on the bottom rope.
Randy raised his arm in victory, thinking he had the match won as blood seeped down his face. The referee told him that the match wasn't over yet because Rhodes had his foot on the bottom rope. Orton was beside himself.
Randy got to his feet. He staggered a little bit as he was still woozy from the blood loss. He grabbed Cody's arm and slowly pulled him to the center of the ring. Then, he went for the pin again. One. Two. Cody got his left shoulder up.
Randy was beside himself probably wondering what he had to do to put Cody away.
Orton stood up, hauled Cody to his feet, and Irish whipped him into the ropes. However, Cody's right knee buckled, and he crumpled to the mat. The referee checked on him and made sure he still wanted to continue.
As Cody was on all fours, Randy went in for the punt to the skull. Rhodes got out of the way at the last split second, and caught Orton with a schoolboy roll up. One. Two. Another near fall once again.
Both men slowly got to their feet and went for the exact same move at the exact same time—a clothesline. Both superstars were down now in the center of the ring.
The referee began the ten count. One. Two. Rhodes started crawling his way over to the ropes. Three. Orton crawled his way over to the ropes on the other side of the ring. Four. Five. Cody started to use the ropes to pull himself up. Six. Randy started to use the ropes to pull himself up. Seven. Cody was on one knee. Eight. Randy was on one knee. Nine. Cody and Randy were both on their feet.
Orton ran towards Cody, and Rhodes caught him coming in with a beautiful standing drop kick, knocking Randy off his feet. However, the move also hurt Cody's right knee.
A small pool of blood formed on the mat as Orton rolled over on his stomach.
Cody staggered to his feet, and helped Orton to his. Then he grabbed Randy by the head and rammed his head into the top turnbuckle. One. Two. Three. Four. Rhodes then rammed Orton's head into the second turnbuckle. Five. Six. Seven. Finally, Cody rammed Randy's head into the bottom turnbuckle. Eight. Nine. Ten. Orton staggered to his feet, and turned around swinging wildly, but missing completely.
The youngest member of Legacy perched himself on the second rope and came off of it with a flying bulldog. He rolled Orton over, and hooked the leg. One. Two. Only a two count as Orton managed to get his right shoulder up this time.
Both men were spent at this point. This was, as good ol' Jim Ross would say, a real slobber knocker.
Rhodes picked Randy off the ground and got him in position for Cross Rhodes. Orton countered it and went for an RKO. Cody countered that and this time connected with Cross Rhodes. He hooked the leg. One. Two. Almost three.
Cody couldn't believe it. If Randy kicked out of his finisher, what would it take to beat him?
As Rhodes picked Orton off the mat again, Randy took the opportunity to hit a forearm shot to Cody's exposed ribs. Rhodes doubled over in pain.
Orton then backed Rhodes into the corner. He connected with a series of shoulder blocks to the gut. When he went for another, Cody leap frogged over it, and caught Randy with a sunset flip. Rhodes put both of his legs on top of Orton's shoulders. One. Two. Th—kick out by Orton.
Both men were on their feet. Randy came at Cody with a running clothesline. Rhodes ducked underneath, grabbed Orton's other arm, spun him around, and hit a flowing snap DDT out of nowhere—a finisher Cody hadn't used in a long time.
Rhodes dragged Orton by the arm to the center of the ring—away from the ropes. He then hooked the far leg while grapevining the other. One. Two. Three.
The bell rang.
"Here is the winner of the match, Cody Rhodes," Lillian Garcia announced.
Practically everyone in attendance was on their feet giving both wrestlers a standing ovation. Everyone cheered as the referee raised Cody's hand in the air.
"I can't believe it! Cody did it! He pulled off the upset! He did the impossible! He beat Randy Orton!" Lawler remarked.
"Yes, and that means that Cody Rhodes is now the number one contender. That means that Cody Rhodes will face Randy Orton at SummerSlam, but this time for the WWE Championship," Michael Cole responded.
Lawler then asked the question I'm sure all of us wanted to know, "What though does this mean for Legacy?"
To Be Continued…
A/N: See? I told you things would get better for Cody, didn't I? Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you tiger35 for putting this on your favorite stories list. I'm usually pretty good at replying to each and every review I receive, so if you have reviewed or if you do review, you can expect a review reply from me. Thanks for reading!