WWE fans saw a dramatic ending to the main event of WrestleMania 42, where Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to retain his Undisputed WWE Championship. But behind the scenes, the original plan for this match was very different, and it could have completely changed the direction of WWE storylines after the event.
What Happened At WrestleMania 42
The main event at WrestleMania 42 took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and was full of unexpected moments. The match was not just about wrestling, but also about outside interference and chaos.
Before the match even started, music star Jelly Roll attacked Pat McAfee and put him through an announce table. Later, McAfee came back wearing a neck brace and tried to be part of the match. However, things didn’t go as expected, and Orton ended up hitting him with an RKO.
In the end, Cody Rhodes won the match and kept his title, leaving fans shocked and excited.
Original Plan Was Completely Different
According to reports, WWE had a totally different ending planned for this match.
The original idea was for Randy Orton to defeat Cody Rhodes and win the Undisputed WWE Championship. This victory would have likely happened with help from Pat McAfee.
The goal behind this plan was to set up a tag team match for Backlash. The rumored match was:
- Randy Orton & Pat McAfee
vs - Cody Rhodes & Jelly Roll
This storyline would have continued the drama between all four personalities and created more hype for the next event.
Why WWE Changed The Plan
The plan was reportedly changed because of Pat McAfee’s situation.
McAfee had earlier said that he would not appear in WWE again if Orton lost the match. However, reports suggest that McAfee himself wanted to step away from the storyline.
There were also rumours that:
- McAfee was unhappy with negative reactions from fans
- Some WWE talent were not fully supportive of his involvement
- He wanted to wrap up his role quickly
Because of this, WWE had to adjust the storyline and change the match result.
Cody Rhodes’ Injury Changes Everything
Another big reason why plans are now unclear is Cody Rhodes’ injury.
During the match, Rhodes suffered a serious eye injury. WWE later announced that he will be out of action for an indefinite period.
This means:
- Rhodes vs Orton rematch is delayed
- Backlash plans had to be changed
- WWE will wait until Rhodes is fully fit
Without Rhodes, WWE cannot continue the same storyline immediately.
What Happens Next In WWE Storylines
With the original plan dropped, WWE is now moving in a new direction.
There were hints on Raw that:
- Roman Reigns will defend his World Heavyweight Championship
- Jacob Fatu may challenge him at Backlash
This means Orton vs Rhodes can be saved for a bigger event later.
Some possible upcoming events where the rematch could happen include:
- Saturday Night’s Main Event (May 23)
- Clash in Italy (May 31)
- Night of Champions (June 27)
WWE may use this time to rebuild the storyline and bring Rhodes back stronger. The original plan for Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 could have changed WWE’s entire storyline direction. Orton winning the title with help from Pat McAfee would have led to a high-profile tag team match at Backlash. However, due to McAfee stepping away and Rhodes’ injury, WWE had to quickly adjust its plans.
Even though fans didn’t get the originally planned ending, the current situation opens new possibilities. WWE now has time to build a bigger and more emotional rematch in the future. When Cody Rhodes returns, the story with Randy Orton could become even more intense, making it worth the wait for fans.
