Cody Rhodes appeared on the April 20, 2026, episode of WWE RAW in Las Vegas, just one night after WrestleMania 42. Nevertheless, it wasn’t just his Undisputed WWE Championship that grabbed attention. It was the condition he arrived in.
The WWE Champion walked to the ring during a segment with CM Punk, visibly battered, carrying the physical toll of his clash with Randy Orton.
While the title remained intact, Rhodes looked like he had been through a car crash. The damage told its own story.
Cody Rhodes’ appearance puts battle scars on full display
Rhodes’ injuries were impossible to ignore. His left eye was swollen shut, heavily bruised, and surrounded by visible lacerations that had been treated with sutures.
WWE had confirmed earlier that he suffered an orbital injury. Moreover, he incurred multiple facial cuts that required three stitches and four staples to the back of his head.
The damage stemmed from his WrestleMania 42 main event against Orton, where a late-match striking exchange left Rhodes busted open.
The situation worsened after the match. Orton delivered a brutal post-match assault, including a title belt shot and a Punt Kick that led to Rhodes being placed in concussion protocol.
Despite that, Rhodes still showed up on RAW — a move that felt less like a victory lap and more like a survival report.
In the ring, CM Punk took notice immediately. He examined the injury up close as the two shared a tense but respectful exchange. Rhodes admitted he felt like a “loser” despite winning, while Punk reminded him that “heavy lies the head that wears the crown.”
Rhodes’ condition also forced WWE to pull him from scheduled WWE World appearances, as he was not medically cleared following the event. There is currently no confirmed timeline for his full in-ring return.
For now, Rhodes remains champion. However, if this is what holding gold looks like, the title might weigh more than advertised.
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