Cody Rhodes walked out of WrestleMania 42 still holding the Undisputed WWE Championship, but the victory over Randy Orton came at a physical cost that quickly became impossible to ignore.
During the match, Rhodes suffered a nasty eye injury after taking a stiff shot from Orton, and things only got worse after the bell. In the post-match angle, Orton delivered his signature punt to Rhodes’ head, leaving the champion with visible damage that carried over into the following night.
By the time Rhodes appeared on Monday Night Raw, the aftermath was clear. Sporting a heavy black eye, “The American Nightmare” also reportedly needed stitches for facial damage along with four staples to close a wound on the back of his head. Despite how severe it looked, early indications suggest Rhodes avoided the worst-case scenarios.
According to reports, there’s currently no belief that Rhodes suffered a concussion or a broken orbital bone, even though he was placed in concussion protocol as a precaution. Internally, there’s said to be a sense of relief within WWE that the injury wasn’t more serious.
Rhodes himself echoed that sentiment in a recent social media update, sharing a blunt but telling remark from his doctor: being told he wouldn’t lose his eye was both reassuring and surreal given the situation.
While the champion appears to have avoided long-term damage, his immediate in-ring future remains uncertain. WWE has yet to confirm whether Rhodes will be cleared in time for Backlash, which is just a few weeks away. Although the rivalry with Orton is far from finished, the company could opt to give Rhodes additional time to recover before booking the next chapter in their feud.
For now, Rhodes remains champion—but clearly, the battle with Orton left its mark.
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