Cody Rhodes Left WrestleMania 42 With His Eye Swollen Shut After Randy Orton’s Post-Match Punt

Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42 Night One — but the cost of that retention was significant. At the post-show, medical staff were visibly attending to Rhodes, and his left eye was completely swollen shut following the combination of being busted open during the match and taking Randy Orton’s post-match punt kick to the head. Peter Rosenberg confirmed on the post-show that Rhodes would be entering concussion protocol.

The title match itself saw Rhodes bleed following an eye poke from Orton in the closing stretch before hitting the decisive Cross Rhodes for the retention. Orton subsequently struck Rhodes with the championship and punted him in the head — a post-match attack that escalated the feud beyond the result and left the champion in visible distress at ringside. As a direct consequence of his condition, Rhodes’ scheduled Sunday appearance at WWE World has been canceled. The severity of his injuries heading into Night Two of WrestleMania 42 on Sunday April 19 raises questions about his appearance at the second night of the show, though no official statement on his Night Two status has been issued.