It appears that the WWE WrestleMania 42 match between Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and “The Viper” Randy Orton was a one-time event, at least for now. Initially, there were widespread reports that a follow-up would involve a tag team match featuring Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll. However, McAfee has since announced that he is done with pro wrestling, effectively putting an end to that idea. Fans were not particularly receptive to the celebrity angle, which was perceived as a TKO mandate aimed at attracting non-fans.
Currently, instead of continuing his feud with Orton, Rhodes is set to collide with GUNTHER, who had originally been planned to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer mentioned a creative shake-up, noting that Orton hasn’t appeared on WWE television since WrestleMania. While there are no confirmed reports of an injury, there have been indications that he is experiencing some pain. Before WrestleMania, the plan was for Orton to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, although that could be altered depending on his injury status.
Ultimately, Orton did not win, and his absence can easily be explained in the storyline as a post-WrestleMania break rather than a specific injury. Meltzer also pointed out that GUNTHER had previously filmed an interview segment suggesting a feud with Reigns, but now the segments are shifting focus toward a future match between Rhodes and GUNTHER. In any case, it seems unlikely that GUNTHER’s streak of retiring opponents will continue, as both Rhodes and Reigns still have plenty of career opportunities ahead of them.