Ted DiBiase Jr. Was Never Seriously Considered for the Orton vs. Rhodes WrestleMania Feud

Despite widespread fan speculation and his physical presence at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Ted DiBiase Jr. was never genuinely in consideration for involvement in the Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes championship rivalry, according to Fightful Select. The report confirms there were no “serious considerations” for DiBiase Jr. to be worked into the storyline, despite his historic connections to both performers and the fact that cameras captured his reactions during the event.

Fan speculation had run high given that DiBiase Jr. shared a significant on-screen history with both Orton and Rhodes during their Legacy faction days in WWE. His attendance at WrestleMania 42 only fueled the theory — but Fightful clarifies that DiBiase Jr. was not in Las Vegas as a WWE guest at all. He was in town for WrestleCon, and one source speculated he may have been sponsored by a water company for a ticket based on the branded shirt he was wearing. His lawyer was also present given the proximity to his fraud case acquittal.

Randy Orton Previously Revealed DiBiase Jr. Owes Him $25,000 Adding a Real-Life Layer to the Speculation

The speculation was further fed by Randy Orton revealing in a pre-WrestleMania interview with Culture Kings that DiBiase Jr. owes him $25,000 — a detail that added a real-life layer of unresolved business between the two that fans interpreted as potential storyline fuel. Following his acquittal on multiple fraud charges, DiBiase Jr. addressed the verdict directly. “They got it right. And I give all the glory to God. Seven years of being slandered and made to be something that is completely false has about torn my family apart, but we’re strong. And I’m so thankful that it’s over,” DiBiase said in a social media statement.