WWE Star Cody Rhodes Suffers Orbital Injury at WrestleMania 42

No timeline given for Rhodes' return after main event match against Randy Orton

Apr. 19, 2026 at 7:36pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action and intensity of the WrestleMania 42 main event match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, conceptually representing the consequences of the hard-fought battle.A cubist interpretation of the intense WrestleMania 42 main event match that left Cody Rhodes with a serious orbital injury.Cincinnati Today

Cody Rhodes, the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion, suffered an orbital injury during his main event match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. WWE has officially stated that Rhodes is currently not medically cleared to compete, and there is no timetable for his return to the ring.

Why it matters

Rhodes has been a central figure in WWE programming, and his injury creates uncertainty around the Undisputed WWE Championship picture and the planned creative direction for the company in the aftermath of WrestleMania 42. The injury also gives added significance to Orton's post-match attack on Rhodes, which may have written him off television for the foreseeable future.

The details

During the grueling main event match at WrestleMania 42, Rhodes sustained an orbital injury that has left him unable to compete. WWE has not provided a specific timeline for his recovery and return to action.

  • On April 19, 2026, WWE announced that Cody Rhodes is currently not medically cleared to compete due to the orbital injury suffered at WrestleMania 42.

The players

Cody Rhodes

The reigning Undisputed WWE Champion who suffered an orbital injury during the WrestleMania 42 main event.

Randy Orton

The former WWE Champion who faced Cody Rhodes in the WrestleMania 42 main event and attacked him after the match.

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What’s next

Whenever Rhodes does come back, WWE will have a ready-made storyline waiting for him, as the return from injury tied directly to Orton's attack would immediately give the feud even more heat.

The takeaway

Cody Rhodes' injury is a significant setback for WWE, as he has been a central figure in the company's programming. The uncertainty around his return timeline and the added significance of Orton's post-match attack create an intriguing storyline that will be closely watched by fans in the coming months.