At WrestleMania 42, Randy Orton faced off against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, marking Orton's first main event appearance in nine years. Initially, Orton was set to win his 15th World Championship, but WWE altered these plans just weeks before the event. Cody Rhodes, who entered 2026 as the champion, lost the title to Drew McIntyre but regained it shortly after. The rivalry between Orton and Rhodes intensified when Orton turned heel by attacking Rhodes during a contract signing. During the main event, Orton's actions included hitting an RKO on the referee and attacking Rhodes, culminating in an RKO on Pat McAfee, who had come to assist. The shift in storyline has drawn mixed reactions from fans, who are now curious about the next steps in this evolving feud.