WWE star Cody Rhodes has responded to Randy Orton's recent "Friday Night SmackDown" promo, where Orton accused Rhodes of being "addicted" and "sick" for his championship aspirations. Rhodes contends that the desire to win is a fundamental aspect of professional wrestling and suggests that Orton's own pursuit of a record 17th WWE championship is a greater manifestation of this intensity.

During an interview with OutKick Dropkick, Rhodes addressed Orton's remarks, which were designed to provoke him into physical confrontation and potentially jeopardize his championship match at Sunday Night's Main Event in Atlanta. "He had said, ‘addicted to winning the championship’ and ‘sick’ and putting it in front of everything," Rhodes explained. "I hate to put it in such terms, but at King of the Ring, I beat Randy Orton. At WrestleMania, I beat Randy Orton. I feel the desperation and the addiction."

Rhodes asserted that every professional wrestler shares this drive to be champion. "You're not trying to get second on the podium. I've never trusted a wrestler ever — hell, I've never liked a wrestler ever — who said he didn't want to be champion," he stated.

However, Rhodes pivoted the accusation of addiction back to Orton, suggesting it's more relevant to the veteran performer given his proximity to John Cena's record of 16 world championships. "I think that addiction and sickness is actually more on Randy's end because Randy's close to the record. He's close to 17. He's close to John," Rhodes said. "I think Randy also feels that he's not been given the credit as one of the, you know, the GOATs of modern WWE, someone who's going to go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it."

Rhodes predicted that Orton would face a third consecutive loss to him at Sunday Night's Main Event, further cementing his own legacy over his rival. "He's also going to go down in history as the guy who lost for a third time at Sunday Night's Main Event to his protege, which is me."

The rivalry between Rhodes and Orton has been a central storyline leading up to major WWE events. Their inability to physically engage before Sunday's match was a stipulation set by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, threatening disqualification from championship contention if either man initiated contact.

Rhodes' comments come as he partners with the game Clash of Clans for its "Search for Cena" event. The upcoming matches, including the one between Rhodes and Orton, are expected to further clarify the landscape as the Money in the Bank event approaches.

Sunday Night's Main Event card also includes a six-woman tag team match featuring Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, and Tatum Paxley against Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab, as well as bouts between Baron Corbin and Lil Yachty, and Oba Femi and Bron Breakker.