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WWE WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Main Event Grade: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, McAfee Angle Falls Flat
TL;DR
Cody Rhodes retained his Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 Night 1, but Orton ended the night with a post-match attack. The crowd's reactions were mixed, with Orton receiving cheers and McAfee facing heavy boos.
Key points
- Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship
- Randy Orton attacked Rhodes after the match
- Crowd cheered for Orton and booed McAfee
- Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 concluded with chaos
Cody RhodesRandy OrtonPat McAfeeWrestleMania 42
Cody Rhodes WWE
WWE WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Main Event Grade: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, McAfee Angle Falls Flat originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 is over, and Cody Rhodes is still Undisputed WWE Champion after surviving Randy Orton, Pat McAfee and all the chaos around him. Even so, Rhodes did not get the final word. Orton stood tall to close the night after laying him out in a post-match attack.
What made it even stranger was the crowd reaction. Despite everything he did, Orton was still cheered by fans in attendance, while McAfee was booed heavily and looked like the easy target coming out of the segment.
That is part of what made the ending feel so off. WrestleMania main events are supposed to deliver a definitive payoff, but this one closed on a cliffhanger that felt more confusing than compelling. For a match and segment that already struggled to hit the moment, it was a flat and unusual way to end Night 1.
How did we grade the main event? Here is the full grade, reaction and breakdown of what happened during the main event.
What happened in Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 Night 1
The storied rivalry between Rhodes and Orton awkwardly involved McAfee throughout. Once the match began, though, he was immediately taken out by Rhodes and the other celebrity involved, Jelly Roll. Once the real match between Rhodes and Orton took place, things fell a little flat. Orton was selling the effects of an injured back before the match, and Rhodes took advantage.
As the match went on, Rhodes even used his opponent's finish on him, hitting an RKO on Orton. Later, Orton returned the favor, nailing the champion with a Cross Rhodes.
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Q&A
What happened in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Night 1?
Cody Rhodes defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton and successfully retained the title.
How did the crowd react to Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton during the match?
The crowd cheered for Randy Orton despite his villain role, while Pat McAfee was heavily booed.
What was the outcome of the match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton?
Cody Rhodes won the match but was attacked by Randy Orton after the match ended.
What was the significance of the post-match attack by Randy Orton?
The post-match attack by Randy Orton left a lasting impression, as he closed the night standing tall despite losing the match.
