WWE WrestleMania 42 (Night 1) PLE Results: 4-18-26
Pat McAfee made his entrance and flipped off fans on his way to the ring. He also dropped an uncensored F-bomb on a fan. Cole said he didn’t know what got into McAfee, who was just as emotional as he was when Cody Rhodes won the WWE Championship. Cole said McAfee’s ego is out of control.
Randy Orton made his entrance. The fans sang along with his music, and the decibel meter graphic was shown. Orton did his standard pose on the ropes, and McAfee emulated him. “Look at this jock rider,” Cole said.
Majestic music played as the stage turned into a Cody Rhodes shine with his various ring gear on display, while Cody was shown wearing the same gear. There was a Codyvator, as he was elevated from beneath the stage wearing a gold American Nightmare helmet.
Cody’s regular theme played, and he headed down the ramp with the helmet on. He stopped for the “whoa” part of his song and then removed the helmet. Cody hugged kids at ringside, and Nick Khan gave him a nod. Cody also found his wife, Brandi, and daughter, Liberty, in the crowd and had a moment with them. Cody picked up his daughter and kissed her on the cheek.
7. Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton (w/Pat McAfee) for the WWE Championship.
Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. McAfee took the mic and delivered an over-the-top introduction for Orton. Taylor got the mic back and introduced Cody. There were a lot of boos.
Charles “Ref Bump” Robinson was the referee. He held up the title belt. McAfee told him to hold on a second and then hit Cody with the mic before the bell. Orton put the boots to Cody, who quickly regrouped and put McAfee down with a CrossRhodes. Cody cleared the broadcast table and put McAfee on top of it.
Jelly Roll showed up and stood on the Spanish broadcast table. Jelly Roll flipped off McAfee and then drove him through the English table with an elbow drop. Jelly Roll encouraged Cody to take care of business. EMTs brought out a stretcher and put McAfee on it. A “you deserve it” chant broke out while McAfee was taken away on a stretcher. McAfee gave a thumbs-up from the stretcher and then flipped off the fans. Funny.
Robinson called for the opening bell once Cody and Orton were in the ring. Cody performed an early powerslam. Orton clutched his back. Orton performed the sidewinder backbreaker. Orton poked Cody in the eyes when he approached. Cody targeted Orton’s back. Cole said Orton “can’t even stand right.”
A short time later, Cody went up top. Orton knocked Cody’s leg out from under him, which crotched Cody on the top turnbuckle. Orton flexed his back before going to the ropes and trading blows with Cody. Cole said Orton needed to end the match quickly to have a chance. Orton performed a superplex. Barrett said it was Bob Orton-style, but Orton regretted it.
Orton powerslamed Cody and then executed a Draping DDT. Orton reached for his back and hit the mat a few times. Orton struck the Viper’s Pose. Orton went for the RKO, but Cody stuffed it and sent Orton to the floor. When Cody ran the ropes for a suicide dive, Orton punched him from the floor.
Orton dumped Cody on the Spanish broadcast table. Orton took a drink of water and handed the bottle to Cole. Orton grabbed Cody, who shoved him into the ring post. Some fans booed. Orton returned to the ring, and the fans gasped when they saw that his forehead was bloody.
Cody hit Orton with a Disaster Kick and covered him for a two count. Cody put his hand on Orton’s forehead and then wiped the blood on his own chest. Cody had Orton on the apron. Cody pointed at his head and then gave Orton a Draping DDT. “This is a different Cody Rhodes tonight,” Cole said.
Cody struck the Viper’s Pose. When Orton got up, Cody went after him, but Orton stepped aside and shoved Cody into the corner. Orton put Cody down with his own CrossRhodes finisher and covered him for a near fall. Orton wiped himself off with a towel and then struck the Viper’s Pose. Orton for the RKO, but Cody countered with a backslide.
Cody dropped Orton with an RKO before covering him for a near fall. Orton rolled to the floor. Cody followed and slammed his head on the broadcast table three times and then dumped him on the table, just as Orton normally does to his opponents. Cody tossed Orton back in the ring and followed.
Cody was booed as he fired up. Cody waited for Orton to stand up, but Orton beat him to the punch with an RKO and covered him for a good near fall. Cody and Orton traded punches. Cody got the better of it initially and then raked Orton’s eyes once Orton gained an advantage. A “blinded” Orton dropped the referee with an RKO.
Orton stood behind Cody. When Cody turned around, Orton tried to kick him below the belt, but Cody blocked it and kicked Orton in the balls. There were boos. Cody went for a top rope Cody Cutter, but Orton caught him with an RKO on the way down and had him pinned, but the referee was down.
Pat McAfee ran out dressed in a referee shirt and neck brace. Orton covered Cody for a near fall. Orton got to his feet. McAfee encouraged Orton to go after Cody. Orton dropped McAfee with an RKO. When Orton stood up, Cody put him down with CrossRhodes and pinned him.
Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in 22:55 to retain the WWE Championship.
Cole said the student became the teacher and credited Cody with having a killer instinct. The announcers narrated match highlights. Cody held up the title belt. Orton grabbed it and struck Cody with it. Orton looked at the title belt and then down at Cody. Orton tossed the title aside. Orton backed into a corner of the ring and drilled Cody with a Punt Kick. Orton picked up the title belt. The executive producer credits were shown, and then the show concluded…
So all of that nonsense with McAfee led to him taking an RKO from Orton for reasons that were not made clear. I don’t even know what they wanted viewers to feel. The majority of fans cheered for Orton. Cole made Cody out to be a hero and defended him whenever he did anything that might be seen as being heelish. And then Orton took out Cody with a Punt Kick afterward, which the live crowd popped for. This was a mess.
