Randy Orton Hits Pat McAfee With RKO; Orton Punt Kicks Cody Rhodes After Losing Undisputed WWE Title Match At WrestleMania 42
Randy Orton stands tall to end the show.
Closing out night one of WrestleMania 42 was the Undisputed WWE Championship bout between Randy Orton and the champion Cody Rhodes. Pat McAfee made his entrance first, and then Orton made his solo entrance. Rhodes had a special entrance which included his past incarnations, such as the masked version of himself, Stardust, and his title collection.
Brandi Rhodes was ringside with her and Cody’s daughter.
Before the match began, McAfee hit Cody with a microphone. Cody fought back and hit McAfee with a Cross Rhodes. He proceeded to put McAfee on an announce table, and then Jelly Roll showed up and splashed McAfee through the table. McAfee was stretchered off.
Throughout the match, Michael Cole mentioned that there has been talk of Orton dealing with back issues, and Orton sold his back throughout the match.
There came a point in the bout when Rhodes poked Orton in the eye, and while blinded, Orton accidentally RKO’d referee Charles Robinson. Orton tried to low blow Rhodes, but Rhodes blocked it and low blowed Orton.
Shortly after, Orton countered Rhodes’ ‘Cody Cutter’ with an RKO. Pat McAfee, in a referee shirt, jetted to the ring to make the count, but Rhodes kicked out at two. After the two-count, Orton RKO’d McAfee.
Rhodes then caught Orton with a Cross Rhodes to put him away and retain the title. After the bout, Orton attacked Rhodes with the belt, and then Cody was punt-kicked.
