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LAS VEGAS – Cody Rhodes left the ring with more than he bargained for Saturday night after defeating Randy Orton for the undisputed WWE title at WrestleMania 42.
Orton hit Rhodes with the title belt and kicked him in the head after the match. Rhodes was arrayed in the middle of the ring as his music echoed throughout Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. WWE medical staff came to check on “The American Nightmare.”
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Randy Orton enters the arena before his WWE Undisputed Championship match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
WWE later revealed on social media that Rhodes suffered from a swollen left eye after the match.
https://x.com/WWE/status/2045693211918676040
Rhodes won the match, but it wasn’t easy. He had to deal with Pat McAfee as a continuing nuisance in his feud with Orton. McAfee started the match by hitting Rhodes with a microphone. But he will then be carried out on a stretcher after being passed through the announce table by Jelly Roll.
Cody Rhodes celebrates his victory against Randy Orton in the WWE Undisputed Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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McAfee returned, only to receive an RKO from Orton.
Rhodes was victorious a year after losing the championship to John Cena at WrestleMania 41. He has been champion for a few weeks, winning the title in March against Drew McIntyre.
Randy Orton makes contact with Cody Rhodes during their WWE Undisputed Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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The next few weeks will determine who the next challenger for the undisputed WWE Title will be. Rhodes will certainly be feeling more disturbed than usual after a bloody war with Orton to cap off WrestleMania 42 Night 1.
