Sports

Cody Rhodes Wins Last Man Standing Match at Crown Jewel by Punting Randy Orton

By Ryan Gaydos

At WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Cody Rhodes faced Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match. Rhodes had been seeking revenge for an injury inflicted by Orton after WrestleMania 42, when Orton struck him in the head, leaving Rhodes with a busted eye. The match was intense, with both wrestlers taking the fight into the crowd and onto the stage. Orton powerbombed Rhodes through a table, and Rhodes responded by attacking Orton with steel steps and attempting a high‑risk move from a ladder, though he missed a splash. Orton tried to keep Rhodes down for the count, but Rhodes continued to attack. He hit Orton with multiple Cross Rhodes, causing Orton’s head to hit the steel steps and bleed. Referee Charles Robinson was reluctant to continue the count, but Rhodes persisted. Ultimately, Rhodes delivered a punt to Orton’s head, securing the victory and achieving the payback he had been seeking for nearly seven months. The win may signal a shift in Rhodes’ approach going forward.