WrestleMania 42: Cody Rhodes Survives Randy Orton Scare Despite Pat McAfee’s Interference

Cody Rhodes improved his WrestleMania record by registering a massive win over Randy Orton and keeping the WWE title by himself.

WrestleMania 42: Cody Rhodes Survives Randy Orton Scare Despite Pat McAfee’s Interference

Cody Rhodes retained the WWE title at WrestleMania 42 [via- WWE]

The first night of WrestleMania 42 is in the history books, and the main event saw Cody Rhodes overcoming Randy Orton to keep the Undisputed WWE title in a shenanigans-heavy bout. The Pat McAfee element was all over the place in it, with the former NFL punter attacking Rhodes from behind before the match even began. Rhodes fought back and flattened McAfee with a Cross Rhodes early on.

He then sent McAfee to the outside and hammered down a few right hands on the College GameDay host before leaving it to Jelly Roll to do the rest. The Grammy Award-winning artist took out McAfee with an elbow drop through the commentary desk to pave the way for Rhodes and Orton duking it out in the middle of that ring.

After McAfee got stretchered out of there, the actual contest that the fans had paid to see got underway. The former Legacy stablemates went almost 23 minutes bell-to-bell. At one point in the match, Rhodes was taunting Orton from behind to RKO his master, but it backfired on the champ when Orton got out of harm’s way and instead planted a Cross Rhodes on the erstwhile EVP of AEW. It didn’t get Orton the win, but he executed the move to perfection.

Later on, ‘The QB1’ dropped ‘The Viper’ with an RKO but couldn’t get the pinfall either. The former Stardust poked Orton in the eye when they were exchanging haymakers. It prompted Orton to accidentally RKO the referee, thinking it was Rhodes. ‘The Apex Predator’ also attempted to go low on Cody Rhodes, who caught Orton and shockingly low-blowed the 14-time world champion to everyone’s surprise.

‘The American Nightmare’ went for the Avalanche Cody Cutter off the top rope but fell straight into an RKO. Pat McAfee then re-emerged wearing a neck brace and running down that aisle to sub in for the referee that was down and out. McAfee went for the count, but Rhodes kicked out. An incensed Randy Orton couldn’t believe it, and he eventually dropped McAfee with an RKO to a huge pop from the crowd.

Rhodes took advantage of a distracted Orton by hitting the Cross Rhodes on him and getting the pinfall victory to retain his Undisputed WWE title. But that wasn’t it. ‘The Legend Killer’ snatched the title belt away from ‘The Prodigal Son’ while he was celebrating. After briefly mulling over it, ‘The Viper’ brought back the Punt kick to stand tall at the end with the WWE title. And that’s all she wrote for WrestleMania Saturday.

Seth Rollins loses to Gunther after Bron Breakker’s spear at WrestleMania

Gunther vs. Seth Rollins was one of the most anticipated matchups of this WrestleMania weekend, and they didn’t disappoint. These men started brawling before the bell rang. Once the match did get underway, it was poetry in motion from two of the very best in-ring performers that WWE has today. The major talking point came when Bron Breakker speared Rollins out of nowhere at ringside.

Bron Breakker cost Seth Rollins against Gunther at WrestleMania
Bron Breakker cost Seth Rollins against Gunther at WrestleMania [via- WWE]

It allowed Gunther to squeeze the air out of an already wrecked Rollins and get the win via technical superiority. Breakker’s return was due, and many fans expected it to come at WrestleMania. He was believed to be medically cleared by WWE a couple of weeks before WrestleMania.

However, the company pulled the plug on his anticipated showdown with ‘The Visionary’ at WrestleMania 42 so as to get the necessary build in. ‘The Unpredictable Badass’ hit his former Vision leader with a spear once again after Rollins had just lost to Gunther.

The second-generation Steiner came sprinting down that ramp to connect Rollins with an awkward-looking spear. Breakker got embraced by Paul Heyman near the entrance way before they walked off. It’s now clear that WWE will build to a Rollins vs. Breakker matchup as one of the major post-WrestleMania 42 feuds.

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