Add as a preferred source on Google Cody Rhodes has once again opened up about the rough physical condition he was in after WrestleMania 42, where he successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton.
During a recent appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, Rhodes recalled going through concussion protocol, having his eye swollen shut, receiving stitches in his forehead, and getting staples in the back of his head. Even then, he said he still managed to wrestle the following week.
“All that, concussion protocol, the fact that this thing was completely swollen shut, staples to the back of the head, stitches to the front of the head, I still found a way to wrestle the following week.”
Rhodes then said he considers himself “built a little different” physically.
Cody Rhodes comments on quickly recovering from his injuries sustained at WrestleMania 42, says he’s ‘built a little different’:
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) May 27, 2026
“All that, concussion protocol, the fact that this thing was completely swollen shut, staples to the back of the head, stitches to the front of the… pic.twitter.com/q3NVvRQU8f
“So I’m built a little different. Yeah, I’m feeling real braggadocious about it. Gave me his best shot and I came to wrestle the next week.”
At WrestleMania 42, Orton attacked Rhodes after the Night One main event, even hitting the champion with a Punt Kick. WWE later announced that Rhodes was not cleared due to an orbital injury, with no initial timetable for his return.
Despite that, Rhodes appeared on the April 24 episode of SmackDown and made it clear he was still standing, even with his face visibly bruised.
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The champion remains a major focus on WWE programming, while his rivalry with Orton still does not appear to be fully over.