Cody Rhodes takes down Randy Orton, Pat McAfee at WrestleMania 42

TL;DR

Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42, retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship. Pat McAfee attempted to interfere but was unsuccessful.

Key points

Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton
Match occurred at WrestleMania 42
Pat McAfee attempted to interfere
Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship
Event took place on April 18, 2023

Cody RhodesRandy OrtonPat McAfeeWrestleMania 42

Cody Rhodes takes down Randy Orton, Pat McAfee at WrestleMania 42

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.

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.

WrestleMania showcases a mix of high‑profile matchups and crowd‑driven moments across its biggest stages.

See scenes from WrestleMania as competition unfolds and post‑match celebrations follow.

Above, LA Knight celebrates alongside The Usos following their pinfall victory over The Vision and IShowSpeed on Night One of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026.