WrestleMania 42: Cody Rhodes retains the WWE title as Randy Orton gets a post-match punt kick
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LAS VEGAS – Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton had a clean sweep at WrestleMania 42 on Saturday night in Las Vegas and the ensuing feud was largely eliminated.
Pat McAfee entered the ring with Orton to start the match. The ESPN commentator's presence was clearly a sore spot for fans as he received some of the loudest boos of the night at Allegiant Stadium. He attacked Rhodes with a microphone to start the match.
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Pat McAfee greets fans from ringside during night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Once Rhodes got his bearings, he pushed Orton aside and looked at McAfee. He removed the announce table, and placed McAfee on it. He allowed Jelly Roll to elbow the former NFL player. McAfee was injured when he was taken off the field in a stretcher.
Finally the game started. It went slow, but the pace counted for the most part. Rhodes, who often ignores his ailing opponents, continued to work over Orton's back throughout the match. The crowd watched in silence as Rhodes and Orton traded blows and tried to get the upper hand on each other.
It wasn't until Rhodes pushed Orton into the ring post outside the squared circle that the crowd finally woke up. Orton was blasted open. Rhodes tried to steal Orton's finisher and gave him an RKO but it was counted out. Orton then stole Rhodes' trick and hit “The American Nightmare” with the Cross Rhodes.
Moments later, Rhodes finally hit Orton with an RKO. But still, there is no fall. Orton responded with his own RKO. He was close to winning his 15th WWE Championship, but Rhodes kicked out.
Cody Rhodes reacts before his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 on April 18, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Orton found Rhodes again and hit him again with an RKO. The match continued and Charles Robinson ended up getting hit with an RKO. There was no referee. Orton tried to kick Rhodes in pain reminiscent of what McAfee did to him on SmackDown a few weeks ago.
Rhodes countered and kicked Orton in the groin instead. Rhodes went to the top rope when Orton got out of the RKO again. There was no referee to count, until McAfee made a miraculous recovery.
McAfee ran down to the ring and countered Orton, but Rhodes kicked out for two.
McAfee tried to yell at Orton to keep attacking, but Orton nailed McAfee with an RKO. Rhodes took advantage of Orton taking his eye off the ball for a split-second. Rhodes hit the Cross Rhodes and pinned Orton for the win to retain the championship.
Exhausted and bloodied competitors held their breath in the ring, but Orton was far from finished. He took the belt from Rhodes and hit him with it.
Randy Orton stole the belt from Cody Rhodes before Rhodes defeated Orton during their Undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Orton ended the night with a punt kick to the head of Rhodes, ending Night 1.
