Cody Rhodes Cancels WWE World Appearances Due to WrestleMania 42 Injuries

Cody Rhodes has been pulled from all scheduled appearances at WWE World on Sunday due to injuries sustained during his WrestleMania 42 main event victory over Randy Orton the previous night, WWE confirmed in an alert to ticket holders.

The decision follows Rhodes’ hard-fought win in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 42, where he defeated Randy Orton after a physically demanding match. Immediately following the bout, Orton attacked Rhodes with the WWE Championship belt and delivered a punt kick to the head, a sequence that drew immediate concern from commentators and medical staff.

WWE released a video showing medical personnel attending to Rhodes in the aftermath, with his left eye visibly swollen shut. The footage, shared via WWE’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, prompted widespread speculation about the nature and severity of his injuries, though the company has not issued an official medical update beyond confirming the cancellations.

During the WrestleMania 42 broadcast, commentators Peter Rosenberg and Joe Tessitore addressed the incident, with Rosenberg suggesting Rhodes would likely be placed in concussion protocol as a result of the punt kick. However, Rosenberg later clarified that the comment was made in the context of storyline discussion and not as a confirmed medical diagnosis.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported on X that WWE had issued refunds and make-good offers to ticket holders who had purchased access to Rhodes’ scheduled WWE World appearances, which included autograph sessions and photo opportunities. The alert emphasized that the cancellations were made out of concern for Rhodes’ health and recovery.

Rhodes had entered WrestleMania 42 under significant personal stakes, after Pat McAfee publicly declared on WWE programming that if Rhodes won the match, he would never return to wrestling. Rhodes’ victory fulfilled that storyline condition, though McAfee has not yet followed through on the promise, leaving the future of their rivalry unresolved.

As of now, there is no official timetable for Rhodes’ return to in-ring activity or public appearances. WWE has not announced whether his absence will affect any upcoming storylines, championship pursuits, or scheduled events beyond WWE World. The company continues to monitor his condition, with further updates expected pending medical evaluation.