Cody Rhodes said he is still feeling the effects of the injury he suffered at WWE WrestleMania 42 after taking a punt kick from Randy Orton.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Rhodes said the eye injury hampered his in-ring work for months and that he may have suffered a minor orbital fracture.
“I think we skated by with a little bit of an orbital fracture, and that’s not on anyone’s fault but my own. It was bad. I think we skated by a little bit of an orbital fracture, and I think I am mad at myself for doing so because it’s affected my work since, super slowed down.”
Rhodes also acknowledged that insisting on working through physical limitations does not fit the image of someone who says he is in the prime of his career.
“Yeah, just to a degree, to a little bit, and I feel like that’s you can’t go out there QB 1 and saying you’re in your prime, and you’re the best you’ve ever been if you’re dealing with something that’s a bit of a hindrance like that, but at this point we’re out the woods. I got through it. I showed up the next night. I am toxic as can be when it comes to physical stuff. Toxic as can be. I can go. Tape it up. I can go.”
Rhodes is striking a much different tone than he did after WrestleMania. As previously reported, he had expressed pride in returning to the ring so quickly despite his injuries.
He now acknowledges that continuing to work through those limitations was a mistake. His commitment to wrestling is admirable, but insisting on competing at less than full strength always carries risk.
The injury also ties into the ongoing feud between Rhodes and Orton. On Friday’s SmackDown, Orton interfered in Rhodes’ match against Baron Corbin, forcing a disqualification. Rhodes tried to punt Orton, but Corbin stopped him. He ended up punting Corbin in front of a shocked Orton.