The road to WrestleMania has featured some interesting twists and turns and Randy Orton punched his ticket to the Show of Shows back in February when he won the men’s Elimination Chamber match. Cody Rhodes won the Undisputed WWE Championship on the following episode of SmackDown and it was confirmed that The Viper would challenge The American Nightmare on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Immediately after Orton signed the contract for the match he turned on Cody. In the weeks that followed Orton was shown talking to a mystery person on the phone who was later revealed to be Pat McAfee.
Before the WrestleMania main event kicked off Pat McAfee entered the stadium and he taunted the fans as he walked down the ramp. Orton entered next, and he took his time walking to the ring while the fans sang along to his entrance theme.
As Alicia Taylor tried to do the ring introduction for Randy Orton, Pat McAfee took over and talked trash to the fans as he hyped up The Viper. Before the bell rang McAfee hit Cody Rhodes in the head with a microphone then Orton stomped Cody. Rhodes fought back and hit McAfee with the Cross Rhodes.
Cody placed Pat McAfee on the announce table as Jelly Roll appeared out of nowhere. Jelly Roll put Pat McAfee through the announce table with an elbow drop and McAfee was stretchered out of the stadium.
Randy Orton looked frustrated as he got in the ring and the bell finally rang. Throughout the match Randy Orton sold a lower back injury and Michael Cole emphasized that Orton was “hurting.”
The action spilled to the outside and Orton was busted open after Cody pushed him face first into a ring post. Orton struggled to stand as Cody called for the RKO. He went for the move, but Orton reversed it and hit Cody with the Cross Rhodes.
Cody finally connected with the RKO on Randy for a two count. Rhodes dropped Orton on the announce table then Orton hit Cody with the RKO in the ring shortly after, but Cody kicked out.
Randy and Cody exchanged strikes and Cody poked Orton in the eye with his thumb. Orton couldn’t see so he hit the ref with the RKO by accident. As the ref was knocked out Cody Rhodes hit Randy with a low blow. Cody jumped off the ropes as he tried to hit the Cody Cutter and Orton caught him with the RKO.
Pat McAfee ran down the ramp in a referee shirt with a neck brace on. He counted the pin as Cody kicked out at two. Orton hit McAfee with the RKO then Cody hit Cross Rhodes on Orton to win the match and retain the title.
After the match Cody was celebrating and Orton attacked him then hit him with the belt. As Cody was trying to get up Randy hit The American Nightmare with the punt kick as the show went off the air.
#ANDSTILL 🏆@CodyRhodes RETAINS the Undisputed WWE Title at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/qnbTPW0Vg1
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 19, 2026