Cody Rhodes retains Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, but Randy Orton gets last licks

LAS VEGAS – Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton put connected a axenic wrestling lucifer astatine WrestleMania 42 connected Saturday nighttime successful Las Vegas and nan looming distraction was eliminated for nan astir part.

Pat McAfee entered nan ringing pinch Orton to statesman nan match. The beingness of nan ESPN commentator was intelligibly a sore spot for fans arsenic he received immoderate of nan loudest boos of nan nighttime astatine Allegiant Stadium. He attacked Rhodes pinch a microphone to commencement nan match.

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Pat McAfee greets fans from nan ringing connected nighttime 1 of WrestleMania 42 astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Las Vegas, Nev., connected April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Once Rhodes sewage his bearings, he pushed Orton to nan broadside and turned his attraction to McAfee. He cleared disconnected nan denote table, placed McAfee connected it. He allowed Jelly Roll to deed an elbow driblet onto nan erstwhile NFL player. McAfee was booed arsenic he was carried retired of nan arena connected a stretcher.

The lucifer yet began. It moved a slow, but calculated gait for nan astir part. Rhodes, who usually doesn’t target his ailing opponents, kept moving Orton’s backmost for nan full match. The crowd watched silently arsenic Rhodes and Orton traded blows and tried to summation advantage connected 1 another.

It wasn’t until Rhodes pushed Orton into nan ringing station extracurricular of nan squared circle wherever nan crowd yet woke up. Orton was busted open. Rhodes tried to bargain Orton’s finisher and springiness him an RKO but it was countered. Orton past stole Rhodes’ maneuver and deed "The American Nightmare" pinch a Cross Rhodes.

Moments later, Rhodes yet deed Orton pinch an RKO. But still, nary fall. Orton responded pinch an RKO of his own. He could smell his 15th WWE championship, but Rhodes kicked out.

Cody Rhodes reacts earlier his Undisputed WWE Championship lucifer against Randy Orton astatine WrestleMania 42 connected April 18, 2026, astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Las Vegas, Nev. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Orton sewage Rhodes again and deed him again pinch an RKO. The lucifer wore connected and Charles Robinson was yet deed pinch an RKO. There was nary referee. Orton tried to footwear Rhodes successful nan groin reminiscent of what McAfee did to him connected SmackDown a fewer weeks ago.

Rhodes countered and kicked Orton successful nan groin instead. Rhodes went to nan apical statement erstwhile Orton came retired of obscurity pinch nan RKO erstwhile more. There was nary referee to count, until McAfee made a miraculous recovery.

McAfee sprinted down to nan ringing and counted for Orton, but Rhodes kicked retired astatine two.

McAfee tried to outcry astatine Orton to proceed his attack, but Orton nailed McAfee pinch an RKO. Rhodes took advantage of Orton taking his oculus disconnected nan shot for a split-second. Rhodes deed nan Cross Rhodes and pinned Orton for nan triumph to retain nan championship.

The exhausted and bloody competitors caught their activity successful nan ring, but Orton was acold from finished. He grabbed nan loop from Rhodes and deed him pinch it.

Randy Orton steals nan loop from Cody Rhodes earlier Rhodes defeated Orton during their Undisputed WWE Championship lucifer connected nighttime 1 of WrestleMania 42 astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Las Vegas, Nev., connected April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Orton ended nan nighttime pinch a punt footwear to Rhodes’ head, ending Night 1.