Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton Set For Last Man Standing At Crown Jewel

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton will settle their long-simmering feud inside a Last Man Standing match at WWE Crown Jewel, after their rivalry boiled over on the October 23 episode of SmackDown. Neither man showed any sign of backing down during the segment, and the confrontation escalated to the point where officials made the stipulation match official for Crown Jewel.

Rhodes and Orton have already split victories earlier in their feud, with each man scoring a win over the other as their issues have deepened in recent weeks. Adding the Last Man Standing stipulation effectively raises the stakes beyond a simple rubber match — there will be no countout, no disqualification, and no ambiguity about who comes out on top. Whoever fails to answer a ten count stays down, full stop.

That kind of finality fits the tone this rivalry has taken on television. Last Man Standing matches have historically been reserved for the WWE roster’s most personal and physical programs, precisely because they strip away shortcuts and force both competitors to simply outlast one another. For two performers as experienced and as connected to WWE’s championship picture as Rhodes and Orton, the stipulation signals that creative wants this chapter of their story to feel conclusive rather than just another step in a longer program.

The pairing also carries extra weight given both men’s standing in the industry. Rhodes has spent the last several years rebuilding his career around a redemption arc that culminated in a world title reign, while Orton remains one of the most decorated main-event performers of his generation. A feud between the two inherently plays on themes of legacy, respect, and who truly belongs at the top of the card — themes that a Last Man Standing stipulation only amplifies, since it’s built around proving who can take more punishment and still walk away standing.

Crown Jewel has increasingly become a showcase for high-profile, often violent stipulation matches, and this addition continues that trend. With the in-ring chemistry Rhodes and Orton have already displayed in their prior matches, expect this one to lean heavily into brawling, weapon spots, and crowd-pleasing near-finishes designed to sell the drama of the ten count.

What remains to be seen is how WWE frames the finish — whether this is meant to close the book on the rivalry entirely or set up yet another confrontation down the line. Either way, the stipulation alone suggests creative sees real value in this pairing and wants Crown Jewel to feel like a definitive moment in a feud that has already produced plenty of drama. Fans will find out soon enough whether Rhodes or Orton is the one left standing when the match goes down.