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Tag: Randy Orton

  • Gunther Names The Five Wrestlers He Most Wants To Retire

    Gunther Names The Five Wrestlers He Most Wants To Retire

    Gunther has revealed a list of five wrestlers he most wants to retire, with Sheamus topping the list for personal reasons and Brock Lesnar making the cut for publicity value.

    Speaking on Main Event Club, Gunther was asked to blind rank his retirement targets. His list in order: Sheamus, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and CM Punk.

    He elaborated on his top two picks.

    “The thing with Brock is for publicity and is perfect. Sheamus, it’s a personal matter. I want to retire him. Subjectively, they are all good choices. On the main roster, Sheamus was my first big opponent, and he beat me up a lot. He made me earn it. I hope I can kick his ass on the way out.”

    Gunther has been dubbed “The Career Killer” after ending the careers of Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles. Sheamus is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury with no confirmed return timeline.

    Gunther is set to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash in Italy on May 31 at Inalpi Arena in Turin.

  • Randy Orton Mocks Injury Report, Vows To Return For 15th Title

    Randy Orton Mocks Injury Report, Vows To Return For 15th Title

    Randy Orton is not buying into the doom and gloom around his WWE status. Hours after a new report tied his post-WrestleMania 42 absence to a serious back injury, the 14-time world champion responded on X with a sarcastic message that confirmed his return plans without confirming much else.

    “Lmao just milking it guys, leave me alone I’m trying to enjoy my summer before I come back and take that #15,” Orton wrote.

    https://x.com/randyorton/status/2056105611327066583

    The “#15” reference is straightforward. Orton currently sits tied with Triple H at 14 world title reigns, behind John Cena’s 17 and Ric Flair’s 16. A 15th run would put him alone in third place on the all-time list.

    The Report Behind The Tweet

    Orton’s post came in direct response to comments from Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer connected Orton’s absence since WrestleMania 42 to a back issue that has lingered for years.

    “Back injury. That’s why he’s been gone since WrestleMania and it’s probably why he didn’t win the title,” Meltzer said. “He’s got a back injury and it’s significant. He’s had it for years. It almost ended his career, came back, still there and that’s why he’s been out.”

    The injury Meltzer referenced is the same one that kept Orton out of action from May 2022 until his return at Survivor Series 2023, a roughly 18-month absence that was widely reported as potentially career-ending at the time.

    Meltzer has previously reported that Orton was originally booked to dethrone Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, with WWE making a late call to keep the title on Rhodes. Rhodes has since moved into a program with GUNTHER, while Orton has been absent from television after closing WrestleMania weekend with a post-match beatdown that included a belt shot and a punt to the champion.

    WWE has Orton advertised for the May 29 episode of SmackDown in Barcelona, Spain at Olympic Arena, the final blue brand show before Clash in Italy.

  • Reason Why Randy Orton Has Been Absence From WWE TV

    Reason Why Randy Orton Has Been Absence From WWE TV

    Randy Orton’s absence from WWE television since WrestleMania 42 is the result of a back injury, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

    “Back injury. That’s why he’s been gone since WrestleMania. That’s probably why he didn’t win the title.

    “It’s significant. He’s had it for years, it almost ended his career. (He) came back, and it’s still there.”

    This comes after it was decided that Cody Rhodes would retain the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42. Orton was strongly considered to leaver WrestleMania with the title, with the booking change coming in the final weeks before the event. Rhodes retaining now appears to have been at least partly informed by Orton’s physical condition heading into the show.

    Orton earned his WrestleMania title shot by winning the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber match. The build to the match was dominated by the Pat McAfee storyline, which replaced an earlier creative pitch that had centered on Aleister Black tormenting Orton.

    Despite losing the match, Orton attacked Rhodes with the title and delivered a punt kick in a post-match angle designed to continue the rivalry.

    Rhodes retained despite being split open during the match and having his left eye swell shut by the final bell. He was subsequently placed in concussion protocol.

    Orton’s back issues have been well documented throughout his career, previously threatening to end it entirely before he returned. No timetable for his return to television has been announced.

  • Randy Orton WWE Return Date Teased

    Randy Orton WWE Return Date Teased

    Randy Orton is set to return to WWE programming following a hiatus.

    ‘The Viper’ last appeared at WrestleMania 42 Night 1, where he turned on his former partner Pat McAfee and lost to Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Following the match, Orton delivered a punt kick to Rhodes despite the loss.

    ‘The Viper’ is now scheduled to return to WWE on the May 29 episode of SmackDown in Barcelona, Spain at the Olympic Arena. The appearance will mark his first on WWE television since ‘The Show of Shows.’

    WWE has officially advertised Orton for the May 29 SmackDown taping. The return comes ahead of the Clash in Italy premium live event.

    Randy Orton Return Update

    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter provided context on Orton’s absence. As per the report, the punt kick after WrestleMania was intended to continue the program between Orton and Rhodes with McAfee and Jelly Roll no longer involved.

    “Randy Orton punting Rhodes after their WrestleMania match clearly was leading to keeping that program going with Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll no longer in the picture. Orton hasn’t appeared since WrestleMania.

    There is no confirmation of an Orton injury, but we had reported he was hurting. Before the show the plan was for Orton to win with the proviso that could be changed based on his injury status,” they reported.

    Championship Legacy

    Orton holds 14 WWE World Championship reigns, tied with Triple H for third-most all-time behind John Cena with 17 and Hulk Hogan with 12. Among active full-time WWE stars, Orton’s 14 reigns leads the way, followed by Roman Reigns and CM Punk with six each.

    The May 29 SmackDown will air from Barcelona as part of WWE’s European tour.

  • Corey Graves on WrestleMania 42 Celebrity Backlash: ‘It Was The Timing’

    Corey Graves on WrestleMania 42 Celebrity Backlash: ‘It Was The Timing’

    WWE commentator Corey Graves believes the backlash surrounding Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll at WrestleMania 42 stemmed from their “inorganic” use on the show.

    Both men played key roles in the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes feud, despite the wrestlers having extensive history WWE could have utilized instead.

    Speaking with Bill Apter, Graves explained that timing was crucial to how fans received their involvement. He noted that WrestleMania and celebrities have been connected since the beginning, but McAfee and Jelly Roll “caught a few strays” in this instance.

    “I truly believe it was the timing of it. I think if there had been a little bit more time to work with… I think if there had been a little bit more time and maybe if it had been in a different match,” Graves said.

    “I mean, obviously, WrestleMania and celebrities have been synonymous since the beginning. I think Pat and Jelly Roll caught a few strays. I think it was just a matter of people have been waiting for Cody and Randy for so long and they wanted to see that story told and unfold organically.”

    Square Pegs in Round Holes

    Graves further described the situation as an example of “square pegs in round holes,” noting that the use of McAfee and Jelly Roll simply didn’t fit what fans wanted to see.

    Rhodes defeated Orton in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Night One, though Orton attacked him after the match. As per the stipulation, Pat McAfee will reportedly never appear on WWE programming again, though the permanence of such stipulations in wrestling remains to be seen.

  • WWE Legend Criticizes Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 42 Main Event Against Randy Orton

    WWE Legend Criticizes Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 42 Main Event Against Randy Orton

    WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett recently criticized WWE’s handling of Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42, arguing that the celebrity involvement did nothing to help the Undisputed WWE Champion. The match featured Pat McAfee in Orton’s corner and Jelly Roll supporting Rhodes.

    Jeff Jarrett Questions Celebrity Involvement

    Speaking on his “My World” podcast, Jarrett questioned the value of having McAfee and Jelly Roll at ringside. He noted that both celebrities stayed out of the action for most of the match, serving primarily as cheerleaders.

    “Jelly’s in Cody’s corner and McAfee’s in Randy’s corner, and for lack of a better word, they’re both incredibly big time cheerleaders throughout the match.”

    “They stay out of the way, don’t get involved, let the guys fight, let the guys fight, let the guys fight, have some false finishes where it looks like Pat is almost going to get involved, but he doesn’t do that.”

    Jarrett suggested the match would have worked better if the celebrities had been involved earlier and then cleared out.

    “And then at the right time, all hell breaks lose, then you can do the table spot, clear the air, get everybody out of the way, and then let those two guys finish it.”

    Match Structure Hurt Cody Rhodes

    Despite ‘The American Nightmare’ retaining his championship at the Premium Live Event, Jarrett believes the match structure undermined the champion.

    “I thought the way they started, it pulled the rug out from under Cody, no matter what. I just thought when you said ‘Let’s just get it out of the way,’ I think the audience will go ‘Okay, what?’”

    The feud drew criticism from fans who felt WWE focused too heavily on McAfee and Jelly Roll rather than the history between Rhodes and Orton. What could have been a story built around their lengthy WWE careers together became centered on celebrity involvement.

  • Real Reason Cody Rhodes Defeated Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42

    Real Reason Cody Rhodes Defeated Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42

    Cody Rhodes successfully retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Night One. The match capped off the first night of WWE’s biggest event of the year.

    Backstage details have emerged about the championship bout. The build to the match featured the long-time rivalry between Rhodes and Orton.

    It was earlier reported that ‘The Viper’ was initially planned to win the title from Rhodes at Mania before plans were altered.

    Part of The Chaos

    In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), Dave Meltzer reported that, as Pat McAfee opted out of the storyline, the decision not to go with Orton as the winner was part of “all the chaos” taking place backstage on Saturday.

    Meltzer added that some described the chaos as “like WCW,” although the decision to move ahead with Cody Rhodes was made before Saturday.

    The report further suggested that people in WWE believe that McAfee decided to opt out of the storyline not just because of the immense fan backlash but also due to talents publicly expressing their frustration with his involvement in the storyline.

    He also noted that following McAfee’s exit, a decision was made to build toward Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk and not go ahead with Randy as champion.

  • Randy Orton Calls Out Former WWE Star Over $25,000 Debt

    Randy Orton Calls Out Former WWE Star Over $25,000 Debt

    Randy Orton recently called out former WWE star Ted DiBiase Jr. during WrestleMania 42 weekend.

    During an interview with The Schmo, ‘The Viper’ claimed his former Legacy teammate owes him a whopping sum of $25,000.

    DiBiase Jr. attended WrestleMania 42 in one of his first major public sightings after being cleared in his federal case. When asked about his former Legacy teammate, Orton didn’t hold back.

    “Ted owes me 25 grand. Clip this sh**, put it out there—maybe he’ll hear it and pay me,” Orton stated.

    Orton’s Comment Sparks Speculation

    Randy Orton offered no additional context or explanation for the claim. He simply dropped the line and moved on, leaving fans to speculate whether he was joking or referencing an actual debt between the two former tag team partners.

    The timing of the comment adds another layer to DiBiase Jr.’s WrestleMania 42 appearance. After years away from the spotlight, his return to a major WWE event was already generating attention before Orton’s remark turned it into a bigger talking point.

    Orton and DiBiase Jr. worked together as part of the Legacy faction alongside Cody Rhodes from 2008 to 2010. The group was a prominent part of WWE programming during that era, with Orton serving as the veteran leader of the stable.

  • Randy Orton Is Not Fan of This Modern Wrestling Trait

    Randy Orton Is Not Fan of This Modern Wrestling Trait

    Randy Orton will never allow RKO to be used like other moves.

    One of the major changes in wrestling over the past few years has been the use of finishing moves. Not only have talents started using each other’s finishing moves more often, but wrestlers having to use the finisher multiple times in a match to get the pin has become more common as well.

    The Viper talked about his own finishing move during a WrestleMania week interview with The Schmo. Randy Orton first mentioned how Vince McMahon helped make RKO one of the deadliest moves in all of wrestling by protecting it early in his career:

    “Vince had a huge hand to play because when I would be wrestling somebody and I was younger, they would want to kick out of my finish. Vince would pull me aside and say, ‘We’re not going to do that. We’re not going to let that happen.’”

    I’m Not Going To Dilute My Finish: Randy Orton

    Randy Orton then claimed that he will never allow RKO to be diluted so much that it has to be hit multiple times to get to the finish. According to the Legend Killer, it is always going to be a kill shot:

    “I’ll never hit a guy with three RKOs to cover him and pin him. I’m not going to dilute my finish. That is always going to be a kill shot and I can hit it out of nowhere. Vince has a huge part to play when it comes to my finish and that’s a huge part of being a WWE superstar, what’s your finishing move.”

    Cody Rhodes made an appearance on this week’s Raw, but Orton did not. It’s unknown if he will be taking a break from WWE programming after his WrestleMania loss.

  • Randy Orton Addresses How Much Time is Left on WWE Deal

    Randy Orton Addresses How Much Time is Left on WWE Deal

    Randy Orton has given fans a clearer picture of how much time he has left in WWE, and he already has a plan for what comes after.

    Speaking to The Schmo before his WrestleMania 42 match against Cody Rhodes, Orton revealed he has four years remaining on his current contract and outlined exactly what he envisions for the chapter that follows.

    “I do have four years left on my contract and maybe when that’s over, I’ll get The Undertaker schedule and pop around for WrestleMania every year and then ride until the wheels fall off, literally,” Orton said.

    The comment suggests Orton sees himself remaining connected to WWE long after his full-time run concludes, following the model The Undertaker established in the final years of his career, making select appearances at the biggest events rather than working a full schedule.

    Orton, 46, has been part of the WWE roster since 2002 and confirmed signing a five-year contract extension in 2024. “I just signed a five-year extension to my contract. I’ve got some time left to do this. I feel better than I’ve felt in over a decade,” he said at the time. With four years now remaining on that deal, Orton is entering the final stretch of his contracted run at what appears to be a strong physical point in his career.

    His WrestleMania 42 Night One main event against Rhodes was one of the most physical matches of the weekend, leaving both men bloodied before Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship. Despite the loss, Orton stood tall at the close of the night following a post-match attack that left Rhodes needing medical attention, positioning the feud to continue in the weeks ahead.

  • Original Plans for Randy Orton at WWE WrestleMania 42 Revealed

    Original Plans for Randy Orton at WWE WrestleMania 42 Revealed

    The Randy Orton storyline at WrestleMania 42 almost looked completely different, and the version fans saw was not the original creative pitch. According to PWInsider, WWE’s early plans for Orton’s WrestleMania role centered around Aleister Black rather than Pat McAfee, with a much darker psychological concept at the heart of the story.

    “A pitch for Orton’s WrestleMania role back in January involved SmackDown star Aleister Black tormenting Orton, trying to bring out the old Apex Predator version of Orton,” the report states.

    The concept was built around Black targeting Orton in the weeks leading into WrestleMania, attempting to prove that Orton had never truly changed from his most dangerous self. The story would have escalated into a WrestleMania weekend match between the two, with Orton wrestling with an internal struggle throughout and hesitating at a critical moment.

    “The idea was that if Black succeeded, it would prove Orton had never changed or evolved and was still the old Orton deep inside. The idea was that Black and Orton would face off Mania weekend, with Orton hesitating to use his punt kick and likely losing,” the report notes.

    The pitch did not end there. A post-match angle was planned that would have tied directly into the Cody Rhodes storyline, with Orton ultimately snapping and using the punt kick on Rhodes to prove Black right all along.

    “But then later attack Cody Rhodes as a WrestleMania angle, using the punt to bring back the old Apex Predator and prove Black right all along,” according to the report.

    The core of the idea survived the creative process even as the vehicle for it changed entirely. McAfee’s role replaced Black’s in the manipulation of Orton, and the end result remained the same: the return of the Apex Predator, the punt kick on Rhodes, and Orton embracing his dangerous persona. 

    “So, at some point, McAfee’s role effectively replaced the pitched version featuring Black,” PWInsider noted.

    It remains unclear how far the Black and Orton pitch progressed through WWE’s creative process before the direction shifted. What is clear is that the destination stayed the same even as the road to get there changed completely.

  • Producers For Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Revealed

    Producers For Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Revealed

    The names behind the WrestleMania main event have been revealed.

    The Night 1 of the Show of Shows this year featured Cody Rhodes taking on Randy Orton in a chaotic match. Pat McAfee was first taken out on a stretcher after Jelly Roll put him through a table. This didn’t keep the former NFL star out for long. He returned wearing a referee shirt after Orton took the match official out with an RKO.

    Though after he failed to help Orton in winning the match, Pat ended up eating an RKO as well. Cody then managed to retain his title with a Cross Rhodes as the referee came to his senses. The American Nightmare didn’t get to celebrate long, however, as a frustrated Randy ended the night with a punt kick to his former friend.

    Who Produced The WrestleMania Main Event

    Fightful Select provided a backstage update on the main event match. They revealed that veteran producer Michael Hayes and former NXT Champion Bobby Roode were the two names responsible for putting this bout together.

    The future of all three names involved in the finish of the match is uncertain after tonight. Pat McAfee had claimed he’ll leave WWE if Randy didn’t win, and Orton himself is said to be dealing with health issues. So it seems likely that we will not see either of them on TV for a while.

    Rhodes on the other hand, suffered a nasty injury during this bout, which could keep him off TV for a few days. You can check out more about it here.

  • Cody Rhodes Dealing With NASTY Injury After WrestleMania 42 Match (Photo)

    Cody Rhodes Dealing With NASTY Injury After WrestleMania 42 Match (Photo)

    Cody Rhodes is not doing so good.

    The Undisputed WWE Champion somehow managed to hold on to the title in his match against Randy Orton that main evented Night 1 of WrestleMania 42.

    The American Nightmare, however, was busted open the hard way during this bout. He couldn’t celebrate much after the victory either, as The Viper took him out with a punt kick to end the night. This meant that the champion was in no condition to party after the Show of Shows.

    Cody Rhodes Dealing With Graphic Injury

    The company provided an update on his status during the WrestleMania post-show. They showed a video of Cody sitting at the ringside after the match being tended by medical, with his left eye swollen shut due to his nasty injury.

    The camera then cut to backstage, where the doctors were seen working on Rhodes eye, though the graphic was not any better than before:

    Randy Orton ended up giving an RKO to Pat McAfee when the NFL star failed to help the Viper get the victory. McAfee himself had announced that he will leave WWE if Orton failed to win the title. So it’s possible that we might not see him on WWE TV anytime soon after tonight.

  • WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Results: Cody Rhodes Retains, Orton RKOs McAfee, Paige & Breakker Return

    WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Results: Cody Rhodes Retains, Orton RKOs McAfee, Paige & Breakker Return

    WrestleMania 42 Night 1 is in the books from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and Randy Orton stood tall holding Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship over his head — the belt he couldn’t win, but the message he wanted to send. Cody retained. Pat McAfee ate an RKO from his own guy and is gone from the wrestling business per the stipulation. Three women’s titles changed hands. Paige returned after more than eight years away. Bron Breakker reemerged from his hernia-surgery layoff to spear Seth Rollins in half. And Bianca Belair announced a pregnancy.

    Quick Results

    • LA Knight & The Usos def. The Vision (Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed)
    • Jacob Fatu def. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match)
    • Paige & Brie Bella def. Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c), Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria to win the Women’s Tag Team Championship
    • Becky Lynch def. AJ Lee (c) to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship
    • GUNTHER def. Seth Rollins (Bron Breakker returns)
    • Liv Morgan def. Stephanie Vaquer (c) to win the Women’s World Championship
    • Cody Rhodes (c) def. Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

    John Cena Opens WrestleMania 42

    Host John Cena kicked off the show in a suit, delivering the opening address to the Allegiant Stadium crowd. Cena acknowledged that the road to WrestleMania 42 has been “chaotic, unpredictable, vocal and polarizing,” with fans, talent, and people behind the scenes all weighing in on the journey to Las Vegas. He welcomed everyone to WrestleMania, and pyro fired to officially launch Night 1.

    It was Cena’s first televised WWE appearance since retiring from in-ring competition in December 2025.

    Cena later returned to announce the Night 1 attendance at 50,816. That number bumped up to 50,817 when Bianca Belair made a surprise appearance in a robe of sparkly blue roses, told Cena she had one more to add to the count, and opened her robe to reveal a baby bump. Belair has been out of action since last year’s WrestleMania three-way with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky.

    LA Knight & The Usos def. The Vision (Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed)

    LA Knight, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso opened WrestleMania 42 with a win over The Vision’s Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed, but the real story came after the bell.

    Logan Paul turned on IShowSpeed the moment the match ended, screaming that Speed had one job and ruined WrestleMania for him and Austin Theory. Paul threw Speed out of the ring, cleared off the announce table, and laid Speed’s lifeless body across it while calling him a moron.

    Paul climbed to the top rope and lined up a dive through the table, but The Usos and LA Knight stormed back out to stop him and laid Paul out with a beatdown of their own.

    Knight and The Usos hoisted Paul onto the announce table and waved Speed to the top rope. Speed climbed up, measured his shot, and came off with a picture-perfect frog splash that destroyed the table and Paul in the process. LA Knight and The Usos congratulated Speed, walked him back into the ring, and the four celebrated together with a group Yeet as the Allegiant Stadium crowd erupted.

    Jacob Fatu def. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match)

    An absolute war. Jacob Fatu made his entrance flanked by fire dancers, while Drew McIntyre brought back his signature sword for the walk to the ring. Fatu didn’t wait — he hit McIntyre with a suicide dive before the bell rang to set the tone for a fight that had no rules and no one with authority to stop it.

    What followed was a showcase of two hard-hitting brawlers trading shots through multiple table spots and an assortment of weapons, including a toolbox that came into play as the violence escalated. McIntyre also found time for his signature WrestleMania spot, firing off a tweet in the middle of the match.

    Fatu landed consecutive superkicks and a Mighty Moonsault to put McIntyre away at 14:09, sending Allegiant Stadium home from the opening hour with a statement victory over a multi-time world champion.

    Paige Returns, Wins Women’s Tag Team Championship With Brie Bella

    Nia Jax and Lash Legend entered first in gear paying tribute to Demolition’s Ax and Smash, who were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before and seated at ringside. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria followed, and then Nikki Bella came out on crutches alongside Brie. Nikki told the crowd she wasn’t medically cleared, so she’d called in a favor from an old friend.

    Paige was back. Making her first WWE appearance in-ring since the December 2017 neck injury that was believed to be career-ending, the former Divas Champion walked to the WrestleMania ring to a massive reaction from Allegiant Stadium.

    The match worked under a fatal four-way tag structure, with only designated competitors legal and tags required to rotate partners in. Brie connected with her signature Yes Kicks on Flair early, and the bout built toward Alexa Bliss lining up a Twisted Bliss for what looked like the winning pin.

    That’s when Nikki got involved. Still on crutches, she yanked Flair out of the ring and went to work on her, giving Paige just enough time to raise her knees and catch Bliss on the way down. Paige followed with the Rampage on Bliss for the three count, claiming the Women’s Tag Team Championship in her first WWE match in more than eight years and her first singles or tag championship win since the AEW Women’s Championship in 2023.

    Paige and Brie Bella are your new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

    Becky Lynch def. AJ Lee to Win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship

    This was the entrance show. Becky Lynch had The Wonder Years perform her entrance live. AJ Lee walked out flanked by roughly a dozen young fans all wearing matching gear and carrying replica title belts — her first WrestleMania appearance in eleven years, her last being WrestleMania 31 in a tag match alongside Paige, of all people, against the Bella Twins.

    Lynch came in with a lot to avenge. She tapped to the Black Widow at WrestlePalooza, at Survivor Series WarGames, and at Elimination Chamber, where she lost the Women’s Intercontinental title to AJ for the first time. Three prior Lee wins. WrestleMania was Becky’s chance to flip the ledger, and she took it.

    Becky Lynch is a three-time Women’s Intercontinental Champion. The head-to-head singles record between the two is now 1-1 on titles, with AJ still leading the overall head-to-head 3-1 when tag and multi-woman matches are factored in.

    GUNTHER def. Seth Rollins (Bron Breakker Returns)

    Rollins walked to the ring wearing black contacts that turned his eyes fully dark — equal parts creepy and cool, and a callback to the headspace he’s been in heading into this match. GUNTHER wasted no time and jumped him before the bell, turning what fans expected to be a technical wrestling match into a ringside brawl from the opening seconds.

    Once the pace settled, the Ring General took over with trademark chops, slowing Rollins down in the center of the ring. A Buckle Bomb and clothesline from Rollins reset things at the five-minute mark, and the two started trading chops and strikes. GUNTHER answered with a powerbomb and a close near-fall to shift momentum back his way.

    The match hit its highest gear with both men on the top rope. Rollins countered a superplex attempt and drilled GUNTHER with his signature superplex/Falcon Arrow combination, then locked in his own sleeper. GUNTHER reached the ropes to break it, rolled outside, and Rollins followed with three suicide dives. GUNTHER caught him with two powerbombs onto the apron and announce table. When the Ring General went for a third, Rollins countered into a Pedigree and a Curb Stomp through the announce table.

    That’s when WrestleMania flipped. As Rollins celebrated, Bron Breakker’s music hit, the lights exploded, and the man supposedly out of action with a hernia injury charged the ring and speared Rollins in half. GUNTHER rolled back in, locked in the sleeper on the dazed Visionary, and Rollins passed out cold. GUNTHER takes WrestleMania at 15:48.

    Breakker wasn’t done. After the match, he ran the length of the ramp and speared Rollins again, then told him he should have finished him off when he had the chance. Paul Heyman walked out to the top of the ramp and hugged Breakker — making official what the spear already signaled. Breakker is aligned with Heyman and The Vision, and Rollins paid the price.

    The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was then shown on stage, including Demolition, Dennis Rodman, and family members representing Bad News Brown, Hulk Hogan (joined by longtime friend Jimmy Hart), Andre the Giant, and Sid Vicious. AJ Styles and Stephanie McMahon came out to their own music to round out the segment.

    Liv Morgan def. Stephanie Vaquer to Win the Women’s World Championship

    Liv Morgan made her entrance with a full stage performance of her new single “Trouble,” lip-synced with backup dancers before heading to the ring still sporting the bruises from her recent collision with Roxanne Perez. Stephanie Vaquer followed with rose petals raining down as she hit the ramp. It was Vaquer’s first WrestleMania match.

    Vaquer took the early lead with a double-leg takedown into a striking exchange, sending Morgan into the barricade before hitting a running double knee strike in the corner. Morgan fired back by countering Vaquer on the turnbuckle with a springboard sunset flip powerbomb for a near-fall, then ran through the Three Amigas in tribute to Eddie Guerrero.

    Vaquer connected with a backbreaker and, in the night’s biggest spot, hit Morgan with Morgan’s own ObLIVion. Morgan kicked out. The Judgment Day numbers game went to work from there: Roxanne Perez distracted the referee while Raquel Rodriguez draped Vaquer across the ropes, letting Morgan connect with an ObLIVion. Vaquer kicked out again, took Perez and Rodriguez out on the floor with a springboard crossbody, and looked primed to retain.

    Morgan caught her on the way back in with the steel steps, then connected with a Codebreaker followed by ObLIVion for the pin at 6:50. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio ran down with the championship and hoisted Morgan up as Perez and Rodriguez joined them in the ring to celebrate.

    Morgan is now a three-time Women’s World Champion, completing the Rumble-to-Mania run she mapped out when she returned at Survivor Series last November. Vaquer’s reign ended at 211 days.

    Main Event: Cody Rhodes def. Randy Orton to Retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

    Pat McAfee walked out first, flipping off the crowd and cursing at fans on his way down. Orton followed to the usual “Voices” singalong from an Allegiant Stadium crowd that hasn’t fully turned on him. Rhodes’ entrance rolled a montage of every gimmick he’s worn in WWE, including Dashing Cody Rhodes and Stardust, before the American Nightmare rose from under the ramp decked out in all gold and an American Nightmare mask.

    The match couldn’t start clean. As Alicia Taylor handled introductions, McAfee grabbed the mic to introduce Orton himself, then he and Orton jumped Rhodes before the bell. Cody fought both men off, and as McAfee scrambled, Jelly Roll appeared at ringside and drove McAfee through the announce table with an elbow drop. A stretcher wheeled McAfee away from ringside, removing Orton’s corner guy before the bell even rang — or so it seemed.

    Once the bell rang, Orton and Rhodes locked up in a classic collar-and-elbow. Orton won the opening exchange with shoulder tackles to establish his power advantage. Rhodes answered with speed and counters, capping the flurry with a scoop powerslam. He picked Orton’s back apart with a sidewalk slam and a Disaster Kick, and at one point wiped Orton’s blood across his own chest — a glimpse of a darker Cody than the American Nightmare fans are used to. Throughout the match, Rhodes leaned on underhanded tactics that felt new for WWE’s top babyface: an eye poke, a low blow, a willingness to target Orton’s open wound with punches and kicks after Orton was busted open on the ring post.

    Orton hung in and answered with vintage offense: a superplex, clotheslines, a scoop powerslam, and his own draping DDT. Every RKO tease got countered. Rhodes hit a backslide, then shocked Orton by hitting him with his own RKO. Orton kicked out at two. Cody mocked the RKO setup; Orton caught him with a CrossRhodes for a near-fall. Rhodes lined up the triple CrossRhodes, and Orton snapped back into an RKO out of nowhere — another close two. Orton even hit referee Charles Robinson with an RKO at one point during the scramble.

    And then McAfee was back. After being stretchered out, he returned as a replacement referee with the match continuing to spiral. That set up the finish everyone will be talking about for weeks. After a Rhodes kickout, McAfee ordered Orton to finish Cody off. Orton stood up, turned, stalked McAfee instead, and hit the mystery-caller with an RKO. With Orton distracted and McAfee down, Rhodes hit CrossRhodes for the pin at 22:40. Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship. Per the match stipulation, Pat McAfee is now banned from the wrestling business forever.

    But this wasn’t a celebration. As the bell rang, Orton got back to his feet, stole the title belt from Rhodes, and cracked Cody in the skull with it. He followed up with the Punt Kick to put Cody down for real and held the Undisputed WWE Championship over his head as the show went off the air. Orton didn’t win the title. He used his own RKO to clear out the version of himself that was embarrassing him, and then sent a message to Cody about what’s next.

    Cody walks out of Night 1 still Undisputed Champion. Orton walks out still chasing his 15th world title, fully turned, and fully alone. This rivalry isn’t over.

    What’s Next

    WrestleMania 42 Night 2 streams live Sunday, April 19 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT from Allegiant Stadium, headlined by CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns. Also on the card: Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi, Jade Cargill defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley, Sami Zayn defending the United States Championship, and a six-way Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match. Stay tuned to SEScoops for Night 1 fallout and Night 2 live coverage.

    How to Watch

    • Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
    • Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas (attendance: 50,816)
    • United States: ESPN (first hour also on ESPN2)
    • International: Netflix
  • Randy Orton Names The Rock As His Dream RKO Target

    Randy Orton Names The Rock As His Dream RKO Target

    Randy Orton has hit the RKO on just about everyone the wrestling world has to offer, but one major name has eluded him, and he wants to fix that.

    The Viper appeared at WWE World on Saturday for an on-stage interview with combat sports journalist and YouTube personality The Schmo just hours before his Night 1 main event against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. When asked who, dead or alive, he would most want to drop with his signature finisher, Orton went with a name that would move the needle beyond anyone else.

    Orton Wants To Add The Rock To The List

    Orton noted that he has RKO’d a wide range of targets across his career, from 90-year-old fans to female talent to celebrities like Mark Cuban and the late Meat Loaf. One name still missing from the list stands above the rest.

    “I’ve RKO’d everybody, but I haven’t RKO’d The Rock, and if for some reason… Rock would be at the top, for sure,” Orton said.

    The answer fits a pattern Orton has leaned into lately. Earlier this year, he publicly invited Tom Brady to take an RKO after the NFL legend called pro wrestling “cute and scripted,” telling Brady to call Pat McAfee to set it up.

    A Dream Scenario With WrestleMania Proximity

    Orton and The Rock have shared remarkably little screen time across their overlapping WWE runs, which has only fueled fan interest in the idea of a confrontation. The Rock has also been a recurring presence in Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania stories the last two years, giving any Orton and Rock moment a built-in storyline foundation if WWE ever chose to pull the trigger.

    The Final Boss is not advertised for WrestleMania 42, though sportsbooks are still listing a Rock appearance as a live prop bet at +500. Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Orton in the Night 1 main event on Saturday, April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Pat McAfee in Orton’s corner after weeks of storyline buildup.

    In a business where “never say never” continues to age well, an RKO to The Rock remains one of the few outta-nowhere moments Orton has yet to deliver.

  • John Cena Reveals Prediction for Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes

    John Cena Reveals Prediction for Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes

    John Cena has revealed his pick.

    For better or for worse, the involvement of Pat McAfee has made the upcoming WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton the most talked-about bout on the WrestleMania card this year.

    The impact of the Viper’s heel turn and the fact that he’s back in the world title picture after a long time has made him the favorite in this bout. Though there have also been questions about his health heading into the show tonight.

    John Cena Reveals His Prediction

    The Cenation Leader, who has a long history with both these veterans, was asked for his prediction on this match by Sports Illustrated on the red carpet for the 2026 Hall of Fame. John Cena mentioned that he was in a very similar position to Randy Orton heading into WrestleMania last year, and so he can’t bet against the Legend Killer:

    “I gotta think about that. I can’t bet against Randy Orton, just cause I’ve known him for so long, I’ve known both of them for so long. And I’ve been in a similar position as a mentor for Cody, a teacher for Cody, somebody Cody wanted approval from. It didn’t really matter; the kid’s a success anyway.

    I just think Randy’s got something to prove. I know what it feels like to say like ‘Oh yo, I want 17. I’ll do anything to get it.’ Cody was the guy I took it from. Randy’s got that vibe about him, that’s pretty special.”

    What are your predictions for Night 1 of WrestleMania 41? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

  • WrestleMania 42: Will Randy Orton Tie The Rock For An Undesirable Record?

    WrestleMania 42: Will Randy Orton Tie The Rock For An Undesirable Record?

    Randy Orton WrestleMania 42

    Speculation went into overdrive after Randy Orton turned heel on Cody Rhodes on SmackDown then, on the subsequent episode of Raw proved dismissive of Michael Cole’s interview attempt in favor of a phone call with an unknown conversation partner. One of the names social media theorized The Viper might have had on the line was The Rock.

    Besides each man having WrestleMania Saturday history now with Rhodes and each showing up on the shortlist for consideration among the greatest third-generation pro wrestlers of all time, Rock and Orton may come to share an inauspicious record effective next month.

    The Rock made his WrestleMania main event debut at WrestleMania 15 and that impressively became the first of three consecutive years when he closed out the show at ‘Mania. Unfortunately, he lost in each of those outings—twice to Stone Cold Steve Austin and once as a first runner-up to Triple H successfully defending the WWE Championship in a Fatal Fourway that also involved Mick Foley and The Big Show.

    The People’s Champion became the first man to lose three WrestleMania main events without a single victory, though he would get the job done a decade later at WrestleMania 28 (and win again to close WrestleMania 40, Night One). If Randy Orton doesn’t beat Cody Rhodes, he’ll join Rock as just the second man to lose his first three WrestleMania main events and will stand alone as the only man to work three or more WrestleMania main events and to have never won.

    Randy Orton’s WrestleMania Main Event History

    Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. Photo: WWE.com
    Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. Photo: WWE.com

    However else one may critique Randy Orton’s history as a WrestleMania main eventer, it’s a testament to his star power and longevity that, effective this year, he’ll have headlined the biggest show in the WWE calendar in shows spanning a seventeen-year period.

    In 2009, Orton had already been an established main event guy for over five years when he closed out The Showcase of the Immortals for the first time, challenging Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. The two had a feud that offered a rare combination of a long history and white-hot momentum going into WrestleMania 25, though unfortunately most fans found the bout itself underwhelming, hamstrung by an ill-conceived stipulation that The Game would lose his title if he were disqualified.

    Orton main evented again in 2014, when he walked into WrestleMania 30 to defend the WWE Championship against a returning Batista and surging Daniel Bryan. This match was an instant classic with a happy ending as Bryan celebrated with confetti raining from the rafters.

    Now, Orton finds himself in another WrestleMania world title scenario—his fifth overall after working non-main event world title matches at WrestleManias 22, 24, and 33—and set to close Saturday night. He certainly has a chance at winning with the benefit of his momentum from a recent heel turn and no world title reigns since the ThunderDome era. On the flip side, though, Cody Rhodes only just won back his WWE Championship and is generally considered a nudge higher in star power than The Viper these days. As such, Orton’s chances of winning in his third ‘Mania main event have to be considered a toss up.


    Main Eventing WrestleMania Itself Is More Important Than Wins And Losses

    Photo Credit: WWE

    The Rock lost back-to-back-to-back WrestleMania main events from 1999 to 2001. Even those fans who believe in the theory that there can be multiple main events in the same night might claim that his wins over Hollywood Hogan or Stone Cold Steve Austin in 2002 or 2003 salvaged his record still couldn’t argue that The Great One won a WrestleMania main event before his fourth try.

    Despite the setbacks, The Rock emerged as one of a very small handful of performers who could make any kind of credible claim to have been the biggest star in pro wrestling history—all of which set him up to walk right back into a WrestleMania main event spot when he returned to singles action for WrestleMania 28 nearly a decade past his in-ring prime.

    Randy Orton may become the second man to lose three WrestleMania main event matches without a WrestleMania main event victory on his resume, and, at this stage of his career, it’s quite possible this will be the last time he ever closes out a ‘Mania. Still, just as The Rock demonstrated before him, it’s less wins and losses in this scenario than making it to “the big dance.”

    Cody Rhodes discussed on his podcast recently how small a proportion of wrestlers can claim to have truly drawn a house. These are the wrestlers who were not just among the attractions, on a show, but the kind of main eventers whom people put their money down to see.

    It’s very telling about Orton’s star power, talent, and legacy that when ticket sales for WrestleMania 42 struggled, he’s the one who got transitioned into a world title picture, got the big heel turn push, and was entrusted to make business happen for WWE. Entering the rarefied air among just 13 men who’ve headlined WrestleMania three times or more only reaffirms that Orton is a fundamentally important wrestler to WWE history.

    Randy Orton And The Rock Have Their Own WrestleMania History

    Wrestling fans often talk about passing the torch moments and WWE has contrived more than its share, between Cody Rhodes’s victories over Roman Reigns and John Cena in recent years, or the way Mick Foley once put over a young Randy Orton as an ascending top guy.

    A fun footnote in the Foley-Orton angle is that not only The Hardcore Legend but The Rock himself put over a rising Legend Killer. Twenty-two years back, at WrestleMania 20, The Rock teamed with Foley to face an Evolution trio of Orton, Batista, and Ric Flair.

    The match was star-studded, especially in hindsight. Even more noteworthy, it served as both a swan song for The Brahma Bull who wouldn’t work another WrestleMania match for eight years, and an inflection point for Orton who, at the following SummerSlam, would be crowned the youngest world champion in WWE history.

    Orton and Rock’s interactions were limited bell-to-bell, but it remains a fun historical footnote that they actually did have a WrestleMania match against each other.

    WrestleMania main event spots are sacred. Only so many performers get that opportunity and fewer among them are those wrestlers who get a second, let alone a third chance. Cody Rhodes will work his fourth at WrestleMania 42 and welcome Randy Orton into that club. What follows for The Viper, only time will tell.

  • Randy Orton Hurting Days Before WrestleMania 42 Title Match

    Randy Orton Hurting Days Before WrestleMania 42 Title Match

    Randy Orton prepares for his WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42

    Randy Orton is reportedly dealing with physical issues just days before his WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. The news raises questions about the outcome of one of the event’s marquee matches.

    According to Dave Meltzer in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Orton is “hurting” heading into the Premium Live Event. While the storyline suggests Orton is positioned to win, the result may not be set in stone due to his physical condition.

    Pat McAfee Stipulation Complicates Outcome

    On the April 10 episode of SmackDown, Pat McAfee cut a promo stating he would never do anything involving WWE again if Orton fails to defeat Rhodes for the title. That stipulation would typically indicate a clear Orton victory.

    However, Meltzer noted the uncertainty surrounding the finish. He wrote in the Newsletter that “Orton is hurting so there is a possibility that would change, as it would make no sense for Orton to win if he has to take time off.”

    Meltzer added that McAfee’s statement “came across like it’s as close to a lock as possible,” suggesting WWE creative had been leaning toward an Orton championship win before his physical issues emerged.

    Backlash Tag Match Still Scheduled

    Despite the injury concerns, the tag team match pitting Jelly Roll and Cody Rhodes against Pat McAfee and Randy Orton remains scheduled to headline the May 9 Backlash Premium Live Event. That booking indicates WWE currently has no plans for McAfee to leave or for Orton to take extended time off immediately following WrestleMania.

    The full Wrestling Observer Newsletter is available at F4WOnline.com for subscribers.

  • Cody Rhodes: Pat McAfee Story Is The Most Ill-Received Thing In History of Wrestling

    Cody Rhodes: Pat McAfee Story Is The Most Ill-Received Thing In History of Wrestling

    Cody Rhodes is not mincing his words.

    The initial reveal of Pat McAfee as Randy Orton’s mystery caller was one of the worst-received segments in WWE history. Things have only gone from bad to worse from there. The company has failed in their attempt to salvage the story and release the anger of fans with worked shoot promos targeting TKO officials.

    The American Nightmare gave his unfiltered thoughts on how the whole thing is going during his appearance on the SI Media podcast, only days before WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes claimed that it’s the worst-received thing in the history of wrestling, comparing it to angles like the Shockmaster’s failed debut and the reveal of Gobbledy Gooker:

    “This is the most ill-received thing in the history of wrestling. Gobbledy Gooker was one, Shockmaster was up there, but that was kind of funny. This is, the entire fandom, your fans, my fans, independent wrestling fans, casual fans, cinema fans, every single fan who has ever said ‘wrestling,’ has received this with, ‘Huh? What? Okay.’ Worst received thing in the history of wrestling.”

    He’s Just Trying to Help: Cody Rhodes

    Though later, Cody Rhodes seemed to express sympathy with the former NFL star. The WWE Champion said that he has to be an optimist and noted how Pat McAfee is a huge star who is only trying to help:

    “He’s just trying to help our party. I respect him and that. On the other side of it, I’m in tune with the online audience, but it’s everybody in the audience. We all see it. I look at that and ask myself, kind of like when I was doing Stardust or given a bone on my way up, ‘How can we make this something?’”

    The former AEW star also talked about Randy Orton getting cheered despite his heel turn before the Pat McAfee reveal. Rhodes noted that fans respect The Viper because he has stuck around wrestling.

  • Cody Rhodes Teases Heel Turn Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Cody Rhodes Teases Heel Turn Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Cody Rhodes dropped the clearest hint yet that a character change may be on the horizon.

    Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show ahead of WrestleMania 42, the Undisputed WWE Champion openly mused about turning heel for the first time in years, citing the repeated provocations from Pat McAfee and the escalating tension surrounding his title defense against Randy Orton.

    “Maybe it’s time for me to change,” Rhodes said. “I’ve been saying for so long, ‘I don’t think I could do heel stuff.’ But after a while, it starts to feel like it’s almost expected, like the audience would expect, yeah, this guy’s going to lose it at some point. He’s going to snap. And how does that look?”

    Competing With Himself

    Rhodes connected the potential character shift to a broader philosophy about his career. He described the moment the American Nightmare persona came together as the direct result of stopping the comparison game with other wrestlers.

    “The greatest competitor you’re going to have in terms of entertainment or WWE is yourself,” Rhodes said. “The moment I stopped looking at the rest of the roster going, ‘Well, he has this or she has this,’ and I just started looking at being the best me, that’s really where the whole American Nightmare thing came to be. I felt reborn coming back to WWE, taking everything I’d learned away, whether it was the indies or AEW, everything I’d done, and putting it finally together and executing it.”

    Rhodes also framed his repeated encounters with outside interference during WrestleMania season as something he has accepted. He cited The Rock, Travis Scott, and now McAfee as figures who have inserted themselves into his biggest moments.

    “If you’re going to be in the big moments, you have to be ready for the big jobs,” he said.

    Whether Rhodes follows through on the tease or uses it as fuel for his babyface fire remains to be seen. He defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Orton in the Night 1 main event at WrestleMania 42 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • Cody Rhodes Knows How To Beat Randy Orton At WrestleMania 42: ‘I Learned Everything From Him’

    Cody Rhodes Knows How To Beat Randy Orton At WrestleMania 42: ‘I Learned Everything From Him’

    The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes recently said that he learned everything it would take to beat Randy Orton.

    However, ‘The American Nightmare’ revealed that he learned it from ‘The Viper’ himself during their time together in Legacy. The revelation came as Rhodes prepares for their WrestleMania 42 main event showdown.

    Rhodes and Orton share a long history dating back to Cody’s first WWE run. Rhodes joined the 14-time World Champion’s faction Legacy early in his career, and Orton later became the catalyst for Rhodes leaving the company years ago.

    Rhodes Reflects on Legacy Days

    Speaking to ESPN’s Get Up, Rhodes was asked about his history with Orton. He emphasized how their connection runs deep through both their careers and their fathers’ friendship.

    “His dad and my dad came up on the roads together, Cowboy Bob, Dusty Rhodes. Randy brought me into WWE. My first match at WWE was against Randy Orton. His faction, the only faction he ever led, Legacy. I was one of the guys in Legacy. I learned everything it will take to beat Randy Orton from Randy Orton.”

    No Love Lost Heading Into WrestleMania

    When asked if he had any message for Orton ahead of their match, Rhodes made his intentions clear. The friendship between the two has been set aside due to Pat McAfee’s involvement in the storyline.

    “Get ready to look up at the lights, pal. Yeah, no, at this point, there’s no hugs, there’s no handshakes. All that love that exists between us got thrown away for this Pat McAfee element, and great. Get ready to look up at the lights,” Rhodes stated.

    Rhodes also addressed McAfee’s role in the feud during the same interview, calling the former NFL punter a “full blooded rat.” The WrestleMania main event will settle years of history between Rhodes and Orton.

  • Potential Huge Spoiler On WrestleMania 42 Main Event

    Potential Huge Spoiler On WrestleMania 42 Main Event

    Pat McAfee will be sticking around after WrestleMania.

    The former NFL star is scheduled to accompany Randy Orton for his WWE title match against Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Night 1. Amid the backlash to McAfee’s reveal as Orton’s mystery caller, many people have been wondering if the company will keep him around after the Show of Shows.

    Dave Meltzer provided some updates on the matter in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He noted that the current plan is for Pat McAfee to be part of a key match at Backlash in May:

    “Pat McAfee will team with Randy Orton against Cody Rhodes & Jelly Roll coming out of WrestleMania and be a key match at the Backlash PPV on 5/9, at least as of plans that were confirmed by multiple people and were still in play at press time.”

    The 38-year-old has announced that he will leave WWE for good if The Viper fails to win the Undisputed title from Rhodes. So him being planned for Backlash suggests that Orton will most likely defeat The American Nightmare to win his 15th World title next week.

    Though reports suggest that WWE is reworking the plans concerning the former Raw commentator in light of the negative reaction to his storyline reveal. This means that things could still change between now and WrestleMania.

    Before that, Pat McAfee is scheduled to make an appearance on SmackDown tonight and he is promising a massive surprise for the show. You can check out more about it here.

  • Backstage News On WWE Reaction To Pat McAfee Disaster

    Backstage News On WWE Reaction To Pat McAfee Disaster

    WWE is aware of the negative reactions.

    The reveal of Pat McAfee as Randy Orton’s mystery caller on this past Friday’s episode of SmackDown turned out to be a disaster for the company, as the whole thing was universally panned around the wrestling circles.

    With reports suggesting that the story idea originated on the corporate front of TKO instead of the creative front, the officials seem to have been left scrambling to make any sense of it with only days left to WrestleMania.

    WWE Reworking Pat McAfee Plans

    Fightful Select provided some updates on the matter, giving an insight into the backstage reaction to the whole thing. They reveal that the WWE officials are aware of the negative reactions, as they have gone back to the drawing board to discuss possibilities and ‘reworked’ some of the plans for the story after Friday’s segment. 

    CM Punk’s fiery promo, where he called out the MAGA association of TKO brass and asked the company to lower ticket prices, is said to be one of these changes, as it was not part of the plans as of Friday evening.

    Pat McAfee has promised a ‘good time’ to fans while confirming his appearance on this Friday’s SmackDown. Though with only two episodes of the Friday Night show to go before WrestleMania, we’ll have to see if the promotion is able to salvage the story.

  • Pat McAfee Fires Back At CM Punk’s Raw Dig, Praises Randy Orton Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee Fires Back At CM Punk’s Raw Dig, Praises Randy Orton Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee recently responded to World Champion CM Punk’s verbal shot on the April 6 episode of Raw, where ‘The Second City Saint’ referred to the former commentator as “Pat MAGfee” during a promo criticizing McAfee’s recent heel turn and involvement in the Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton storyline.

    McAfee took to social media on April 7 and fired back at Punk’s comments. In a lengthy post on X, he dismissed Punk while championing Randy Orton as the true star heading into WrestleMania 42.

    “Good morning beautiful people..

    Last night a Punk ass bitch explained that he is not worth the price of admission to #WrestleMania42

    WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH THAT.. it’s kindof the whole thing I been sayin BUT.. I have GREAT news

    THE WRESTLING GODS have blessed us and @RandyOrton IS HERE TO SAVE YOU ALL”

    McAfee Lists Orton’s Accomplishments

    McAfee proceeded to detail Orton’s extensive WWE resume, positioning The Viper as wrestling royalty. He noted Orton is a 14-time World Champion who could tie for third all-time with a win at WrestleMania 42, trailing only Ric Flair’s 16 reigns and John Cena’s 17.

    “Youngest world champ EVER. 10th ever WWE Grand Slam champ. Only WWE Superstar to have entered Mania as a champ with 5 different titles (World, WWE, I-C, US and Tag),” McAfee continued, listing Orton’s records for most RAW matches, most PPV matches, and being a two-time Royal Rumble winner.

    “The business needs us. The actual fans of wrestling need to come together and THANK THE MAN WHO IS GONNA SAVE THE BUSINESS.”

  • Pat McAfee Explains Randy Orton Alliance Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee Explains Randy Orton Alliance Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    NFL legend Pat McAfee recently explained his alliance with Randy Orton on last week’s SmackDown. The former NFL punter turned commentator was unveiled as the mystery caller who had been motivating Orton in recent weeks.

    McAfee questioned Rhodes’ leadership of WWE. He declared that everything in the company is terrible without Orton at the forefront.

    Pat McAfee Details Phone Conversations With Randy Orton

    Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, he revealed the conversations began after Orton appeared on his program at the NFL Combine. He explained his motivation for reaching out to the 14-time world champion.

    “My daughter is about to turn three years old. I would like her to be a wrestling fan, but I would like wrestling to be what wrestling is supposed to be, especially at the top of the card. 6’5″, 275 pounds of perfection from the wrestling Gods has been sitting here this whole time. Is it on TV all day, every day? Absolutely not. He was actually sent home for six months recently. What? How is this guy being sent home?”

    McAfee expressed frustration that ‘The Viper’ hasn’t been featured more prominently. He positioned Orton’s potential 15th world championship win at WrestleMania as the key to saving WWE’s future.

    Everything Without Orton Is “Shite”

    McAfee made his stance clear on what WWE programming should prioritize moving forward.

    “Anything that doesn’t involve Randy, in my eyes, shite. If Randy Orton is involved, good. Just know, we got some things cooking. Future wrestling fans are going to look back on the night in Vegas and say, ‘That was the moment that that GOAT saved the entire business.’ Thank you, Randy.”