- News
- Sports News
- WWE WrestleMania 42 Live Update: Orton strikes again, hits RKO on Cody Rhodes and walks off with the belt as Night 1 ends
WWE WrestleMania 42 Live Update: Orton strikes again, hits RKO on Cody Rhodes and walks off with the belt as Night 1 ends
The night began with a six-man tag match that set the tone early, as The Usos and LA Knight faced Logan Paul, Austin Theory and IShowSpeed, a crossover-heavy matchup that mixes established WWE talent with outside personalities.
The championship matches form the core of the card. Stephanie Vaquer defends the Women’s World Championship against Liv Morgan, who earned her opportunity by winning the 2026 Royal Rumble, placing her directly into one of the biggest title matches of the weekend.
AJ Lee puts the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line against Becky Lynch, while the Women’s Tag Team Championship is contested in a Fatal 4-Way involving reigning champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend against The Bella Twins, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, and Bayley alongside Lyra Valkyria.
Outside the title picture, Seth Rollins faces Gunther in a singles match shaped by a personal rivalry, while Drew McIntyre meets Jacob Fatu in an unsanctioned bout, adding a more physical edge to the card.
The focus remains on the main event, where Cody Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton. Their feud escalated after Orton’s sudden attack following a contract signing, leaving Rhodes bloodied and shifting the rivalry into something more personal.
Orton’s alignment with Pat McAfee has also played into the buildup, with McAfee positioning himself as a guiding presence for “The Viper” as he pursues a 15th world title.
Night 1 sets the stage for the second half of WrestleMania 42, where CM Punk and Roman Reigns are scheduled to headline Night 2 for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Cody Rhodes had just endured a brutal match and managed to hold on, standing battered and exhausted as he raised the title in what seemed like a hard-earned moment of triumph. That feeling didn’t last long, though, as Randy Orton suddenly struck with an RKO, catching him completely off guard when he could barely stay on his feet.
Orton didn’t stop there, as he grabbed the championship and added further damage while Rhodes was already down. Now Cody Rhodes is laid out in the ring, and Orton is sitting in the corner with the title in his hands, that cold, familiar look back on his face.
Night 1 comes to a close on that note, with the situation far from resolved and the tension clearly set to carry over into whatever unfolds next.
This has turned into one of the most intense fights of the night. Both have gone through the table outside and taken heavy hits inside the ring, and it’s showing. Randy Orton is bleeding after having his head driven into the corner post, while Cody Rhodes has already taken at least five RKOs and is barely staying in it.
Things completely broke down with the officials. Orton hit an RKO on the referee, a second referee came in, and minutes later he got dropped with another RKO as well.
Right after that second RKO on the official, Cody caught the opening, pulled Orton in and hit Cross Rhodes clean. Orton didn’t get back up.
Against the run of the match, with Orton dominating large stretches, Cody gets the win and retains the Undisputed WWE Championship, beating his former mentor in the process.
Before the match could even get going, Pat McAfee stepped in and hit Rhodes with a microphone, kicking things off. Orton followed immediately, going after the champion as it broke down fast.
Rhodes’ team rushed in, and the situation spilled outside the ring. McAfee took the worst of it, getting slammed through the commentary table.
He’s now being taken out on a stretcher after that sequence, with things still not settled between Orton and Rhodes.
Moments later, Randy Orton follows, and the response flips completely, standing ovation, loud cheers for “The Viper” as he walks in looking like the more dominant presence.
This one runs deeper than just the title, with Orton once mentoring Rhodes before turning on him and embracing that heel edge again, making this as personal as it gets.
She walked out to a huge ovation inside Allegiant Stadium before sharing the news that she is pregnant and expecting her first child with her husband, Montez Ford.
The segment was hosted by John Cena, who was visibly emotional as Belair made the announcement, with the crowd fully behind her throughout the moment.
The action spilled outside the ring, where The Judgment Day and two Oblivions got involved, leaving Vaquer outnumbered as she tried to fight through it. Even then, she kept coming back and stayed in it deep into the closing stretch.Morgan eventually caught her with the finishing move, just when it looked like Vaquer might still have something left, and that was enough to get it done and take the title.
Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan are both in the ring after their entrances, and there’s a brief pause as they size each other up before locking in.
Vaquer comes in as the reigning Women’s World Champion, while Morgan earned this shot by winning the 2026 Royal Rumble. The stakes are clear, and neither is rushing the opening exchange as they circle and wait for the first move.
Rollins tried to fight it but started fading, and the referee stepped in and called it as he was close to passing out. The bell rang, and Gunther got the win.
Seth Rollins has dragged Gunther out of the ring and the fight has spilled straight to the commentary area. They’re clearing off the table, pushing equipment aside, and trading heavy shots as they try to set each other up for a slam right there.
Seth Rollins and Gunther are going straight at each other now. The intensity is real, neither is holding back. Both have taken heavy damage, both look exhausted, and it’s completely even at this point with no clear edge.
Seth Rollins is now out and making his way to the ring, with Gunther already inside, standing still and watching him closely. The focus is clear from both sides, no distractions.
They don’t wait around once Rollins gets in. Both step up to each other straight away, and the referee is already getting involved, trying to keep them apart before things spill over. You can see it building, neither of them is interested in holding back here.
Gunther is out in the arena and heading to the ring on his own, taking his time as he soaks in the reaction. Seth Rollins hasn’t come out yet, so this moment is all Gunther setting the tone early.
This goes back to his return on Raw, when he blindsided Rollins and then made it clear this isn’t just another match for him. Gunther has been saying Rollins isn’t on his level, calling himself the true “Ring General” and insisting Rollins “can’t lace his boots.”
Right now, Gunther looks completely in control, waiting in the ring for Rollins to make his entrance and respond.
The Women’s Intercontinental Championship match has wrapped up with Becky Lynch defeating AJ Lee to win the title.
AJ started strongly and controlled the early exchanges, with Becky looking slightly rattled at the beginning. That shifted midway through the match as Lynch settled in and began pushing the pace, forcing AJ onto the back foot. She even went for an early pin during that stretch, but AJ kicked out and stayed in the contest.
This marked AJ Lee’s first WrestleMania appearance in 11 years, and there was visible emotion during her entrance, though the match itself quickly turned into a physical back-and-forth.
Lynch kept the pressure on late and closed it out, ending the contest with the decisive pin and walking away as the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion after a rivalry that had already escalated in the weeks leading into WrestleMania.
Lynch still managed to kick out at two, and the match kept moving without slowing down, with both going back at each other right after that sequence.
Lynch’s response since then has been direct and physical, including the post-match ambush on the March 16 episode of Raw that pushed this beyond a standard title defence. That edge is showing early here. Lynch is not easing into this, she’s going after AJ with intent, while AJ is trying to keep control and slow the pace where she can. The match has started tight, but there’s already a sense this could get scrappy quickly.
The night is headlined by Cody Rhodes defending his title against Randy Orton, in a rivalry that has turned personal following Orton’s recent attack and alignment with Pat McAfee.
The show opened with a six-man tag team match featuring The Usos and LA Knight against Logan Paul, Austin Theory and IShowSpeed.
Title matches across the card include Stephanie Vaquer defending the Women’s World Championship against Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan, AJ Lee facing Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, and a Fatal 4-Way for the Women’s Tag Team titles featuring Nia Jax & Lash Legend, The Bella Twins, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria.
