Stephanie McMahon Appears on WWE Raw, Delivers Tough Love To Cody Rhodes

Stephanie McMahon made an appearance on this week’s episode of WWE Raw and gave Cody Rhodes some hard truths about his WrestleMania rivalry with Randy Orton. Monday night’s episode opened with the Undisputed WWE Champion coming down to the ring to address his match with Orton at WrestleMania 42 for the title. Before he could do so though, McMahon made her way down to the ring.

McMahon spoke about how Madison Square Garden was the house her grandfather built and recalled her memories of being a kid watching WWE events in the Garden and talked about how Rhodes believes he can bring out the best in people. She said that he can’t do so with this version of Orton, and that he has to be able to think like The Viper. She noted that Dusty Rhodes could get down and dirty like that, but Rhodes isn’t like that and said this version of him can’t beat this version of Orton.

Rhodes countered that he knows all about Orton and that he isn’t his father, but Stephanie isn’t her father either. McMahon slapped Rhodes and said she’s here because she cared about Rhodes, and that Rhodes doesn’t understand this Orton and if he can’t figure Orton out, he’ll lose the title. Rhodes then stopped McMahon from leaving and thanked her for the advice before leaving.

You can see highlights from the segment below. McMahon is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at WrestleMania.

WOW! 🤩@StephMcMahon is in the building at MSG!! pic.twitter.com/KUACjPxhR3

— WWE (@WWE) March 31, 2026

"YOU ARE NOT YOUR FATHER" 🫢@StephMcMahon with some tough love for @CodyRhodes. pic.twitter.com/PsbKJB5S5R

— WWE (@WWE) March 31, 2026

"Some of that stuff was to YOU" 😮

A tense confrontation between @StephMcMahon and @CodyRhodes! pic.twitter.com/Yrlwzi1AkQ

— WWE (@WWE) March 31, 2026