In a main event that shifted the landscape of the WWE forever, Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to retain his Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42 Night 1 . The match, held on April 18, 2026, in front of a capacity crowd of 50,386 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, was a masterpiece of storytelling.
However, the victory was overshadowed by the shocking attitude change of the "American Nightmare," who leaned into a ruthless heel persona throughout the bout, and a violent aftermath that left the champion bloodied.
Chaos At Ringside: Jelly Roll And Pat McAfee Intervene
The interference of Pat McAfee, who has been aligned with Orton on the road to WrestleMania, backfired spectacularly. As the match reached its fever pitch, the musical artist Jelly Roll-who was seated ringside-made his presence felt. In a moment of absolute chaos, Cody Rhodes delivered a Cross Rhodes to McAfee on the floor before Jelly Roll helped put the commentator through the announce table.
This left Orton isolated and distracted. Sensing the opportunity, a relentless Rhodes hit a triple Cross Rhodes in the centre of the ring. Disregarding his usual honourable code, Cody pinned his mentor with a smug look, securing the three-count at the 24-minute mark.
The Aftermath: A Heel Turn And A Punt Kick
While the record books will show that Cody Rhodes retained his title, the "American Nightmare" left the ring as the most hated man in the building. During his celebration, Rhodes refused to show any respect to the fallen legend. This arrogance proved to be his undoing; as Cody turned his back, a wounded Randy Orton found one last burst of energy.
Orton targeted the champion with a devastating Punt Kick, the move he had used to "end careers" a decade ago. Medical staff rushed to the ring as Rhodes lay motionless, ending Night 1 on a sombre and controversial note. While Cody remains the champion, he has lost the respect of the locker room and the fans, setting a dark tone for the remainder of the WrestleMania weekend.