Report: Randy Orton Originally Planned To Win Undisputed WWE Title At WrestleMania 42

Cody Rhodes wasn't originally scheduled to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 42, according to multiple reports.

Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that, as of Pat McAfee's unveiling as Randy Orton's mystery caller and his promise to never appear in WWE again if Orton lost at WrestleMania on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, the plan was for Randy Orton to become a 15-time world champion.

"Randy was supposed to win. I know that the finish to Cody winning….you know, there's a lot of chaos the morning of the show. I asked did that finish change the morning of the show and there was people who said yes. But someone who I would trust more than anyone and would know said no, it was decided before yesterday morning. On Friday night in San Jose, yeah, Randy was winning at that point," Meltzer stated.

Bodyslam has also reported that the booking of Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton changed from Orton winning "within the last few weeks." Part of the decision behind the alteration was that WWE had plans for the Orton vs. Rhodes feud to continue beyond WrestleMania. This was also the reason for the post-match angle where Randy punted his former Legacy stablemate.

Cody Rhodes successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Title against Randy Orton after connecting with a Cross Rhodes out of nowhere, only seconds after Orton delivered an RKO to Pat McAfee after McAfee failed to count the 1-2-3 while referee Charles Robinson was down.

After the match, Orton grabbed the Undisputed WWE Title from Cody Rhodes and hit Cody with the belt. Orton then punted Rhodes to end night one of WrestleMania 42 standing tall.