LAS VEGAS — “The American Nightmare” has conquered “The Viper.”
Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in the main event of WrestleMania 42 night one on Saturday, April 18, taking down his mentor, despite the efforts of Pat McAfee, to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.
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Here’s how it went down:
Before the action can begin, McAfee and Orton try a sneak attack on Rhodes. However, the champion doesn’t miss. He throws Orton out and hits his finisher on McAfee. He took him out of the ring and threw him on the announcer’s table, where Jelly Roll emerged and delivered a frog splash to help Rhodes out. McAfee gets stretchered out.
Now, with McAfee gone, the two stars could settle the fight on their own. The bell rang and there wasn’t a feeling out process, with Rhodes and Orton getting after it. The champion looked a step quicker than the challenger, with Orton looking like his lower back was bothering him. Rhodes targeted the area and Orton was just getting thrown around pretty easily.
A shift happened when Rhodes tried taking the action to the top rope, with Orton countering a suplex off of it. It allowed him to get into his arsenal, showing some vintage Orton in the process. While all was going good, Orton got shoved into the stanchion and he was bleeding from his forehead.
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The bloodied Orton was clearly struggling, appearing defenseless while Rhodes marked himself with his opponent’s wound and using his own vintage Orton move. Rhodes readied for the RKO, just for Orton to come alive and execute his own Cross Rhodes. Orton wasn’t able to get his own RKO in, but Rhodes did it. Readying for a Cross Rhodes, Orton surprised the champion with his first RKO, which didn’t land a win.
Both stars got back on their feet and traded shots, but suddenly, Orton hit the referee with an RKO. It confused Rhodes, and when he turned around, he stopped a cheap shot from Orton and did his own. He went for a Cody Cutter and was met with a Cross Rhodes.
With the referee down, Orton called for another referee, and it turned out to be McAfee, sporting a neck brace. However, he wasn’t able to get the successful pin. Orton got up and gave McAfee an RKO to officially end the allegiance.
Right there, though, was Rhodes. He grabbed Orton and landed the Cross Rhodes, and the referee got back up to count the win. Rhodes retains.
The win continues Rhodes’ third reign as WWE champion, which began in January after he reclaimed the prize from Drew McIntyre.
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He also denies Randy Orton from reclaiming the top prize in WWE for the first time since 2020. Orton was also chasing another milestone in the match, looking to become a 15-time champion that would have put him solely in third place all-time.
Rhodes improves his WrestleMania record to 4-9, and again shines in the main event of the show after losing in it last year to John Cena. He now has a 2-3 record in the main event of WWE’s top show, and he gets to enter the next phase of the calendar still on top.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cody Rhodes wins WWE title over Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42
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