Summary

Cody Rhodes came out of WrestleMania 42 worse for wear after surviving Randy Orton in the night one main event for the Undisputed WWE Title.

Late in the match, Orton caught Rhodes with an RKO while Rhodes was going for the Cody Cutter. When Rhodes appeared again after that sequence, he was bleeding, but he still recovered to put Orton away with Cross Rhodes.

The damage did not stop once the bell rang. Orton attacked Rhodes after the match, hitting him with the championship belt before dropping him with a punt kick.

Winner

Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Title. The finish came when Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes for the pin.

Cody Rhodes' condition after WrestleMania 42

During the post-show, Rhodes was shown being evaluated by medical staff, and his left eye was swollen completely shut.

His scheduled WWE World appearance for Sunday was later canceled because of the injuries he suffered in the match. It was also stated on the post-show that Rhodes would be in concussion protocol.

What WrestleMania 42 means for Cody Rhodes next

Rhodes is still leaving night one as champion, but the immediate fallout puts the focus on recovery as much as momentum. After a match that already ended in chaos, and with Orton adding a belt shot and punt after the finish, WWE now has an easy story reason to keep Rhodes limited while selling the toll of the rivalry.

It also gives extra weight to the ending of Rhodes' chaotic WrestleMania 42 match with Orton. If Rhodes is dealing with a possible concussion and visible facial damage, the feud's final image is not just a title defense, it is a champion who escaped with the belt but paid for it.

Sources

WWE post-show coverage and WWE via X