WWE Crown Jewel 2026 served as the dramatic climax for the nearly year-long blood feud between two legendary veterans, Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.

Over the past 10 months, these future Hall of Famers drifted in and out of conflict. Their high-stakes battle for the prestigious WWE Championship leading into WrestleMania 42 back in April was unfortunately overshadowed by the involvement of Pat McAfee.

Following a post-WrestleMania break, Orton made his dramatic comeback at WWE SummerSlam to reignite the hostilities. After months of escalating tension, the rivalry culminated in Riyadh at Crown Jewel 2026, answering a burning question: would Rhodes actually punt kick Orton into oblivion?

WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Results For Cody Rhodes Vs. Randy Orton

The definitive answer to that question proved to be a resounding yes.

Cody Rhodes has finally closed the chapter on his turbulent history with Randy Orton. At WWE Crown Jewel 2026, "The American Nightmare" outlasted "The Viper" inside a grueling Last Man Standing match to finally conquer his former mentor.

Weeks after landing a vicious punt kick on Baron Corbin, Rhodes replicated the move on Orton following a brutal sequence of three consecutive Cross Rhodes. Setting up Orton for the decisive blow, Rhodes kept his adversary down for the full 10-count, emerging victorious before a heavily pro-Orton crowd in Riyadh.

Key highlights from Rhodes' monumental triumph over Orton at WWE Crown Jewel 2026 include:

  • Right from the opening bell, both competitors exploded into a chaotic brawl. The passionate audience roared while continuing to sing along to Orton's entrance theme. Orton missed a corner spear, crashing shoulder-first into the turnbuckle, which allowed Rhodes to execute a high-flying dive to the outside.
  • Orton eventually gained the upper hand by planting Rhodes with a side suplex onto the announce desk. Encouraged by chants of "one more time" from the spectators, Orton repeated the maneuver before driving Rhodes straight through the protective desk padding. The action spilled directly into the audience as Orton battered Rhodes with a trash can lid.
  • Returning to the ring, Orton relentlessly struck Rhodes with a kendo stick. Rhodes ducked a subsequent swing, seized the weapon to return the punishment, and clotheslined Orton to the floor. Out on the entrance ramp, Rhodes blasted Orton with a garbage can before introducing a table. After an eye poke, Orton drove Rhodes through the table via a powerbomb, leaving the referee counting to eight before Rhodes clawed his way back to his feet.
  • Back inside the squared circle, Rhodes hit Orton with his own signature draping DDT. Moments later, Orton delivered a massive superplex followed by his trademark snap powerslam. After countering an attempted RKO with a thumb to the eye, Rhodes executed a snap powerslam of his own alongside the Cody Cutter. As Rhodes prepared to deliver his father Dusty’s iconic Bionic Elbow, Orton struck with an RKO out of nowhere, though it wasn't enough to secure the 10-count. Outside the ring, Rhodes narrowly avoided the steel steps and instead smashed Orton with them, with the crowd remaining firmly in Orton’s corner.
  • Retrieving a ladder from beneath the ring, Rhodes attempted a top-rope splash on the announce table, but Orton moved out of the way, sending Rhodes crashing hard through the furniture. Both men struggled as the referee began his count, with Orton rising first and Rhodes beating the count at nine amid arena boos.
  • Back inside, the crowd erupted as Orton prepared for the punt kick. Rhodes dodged the strike, launched a super Cody Cutter, and delivered the first of three Cross Rhodes. Orton managed to stagger to his feet just before the 10-count, drawing "You suck" chants directed at the babyface Rhodes.
  • Rhodes positioned Orton atop the steel ring steps and reached for a steel chair, but Orton countered with a low blow. Escaping another RKO attempt, Rhodes unleashed a second and third Cross Rhodes. Despite the brutal sequence, the crowd chanted in support of Orton, who barely connected with the steps during the final impact.
  • With the 10-count looming, Rhodes physically blocked the referee from completing the count. He then drove a busted-open Orton into the canvas with the definitive punt kick, keeping him down for the 10-count and cementing his status as the Last Man Standing.

WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Results: What’s Next For Cody Rhodes And Randy Orton?

In a pre-show promo on SmackDown, Rhodes declared that the victor of his clash with Orton would officially secure the position of No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship.

Even though Rhodes openly acknowledged that audiences are experiencing "Cody fatigue" due to his constant main-event presence, WWE cemented him as the primary challenger anyway. Ideally, this positioning would catalyze a long-overdue heel turn for Rhodes, though company leadership appears hesitant despite its logical setup for a prospective match against CM Punk at WrestleMania 43.

Moving forward, Rhodes appears poised for an immediate thrust back into the title picture against current champion Sami Zayn. Given the ongoing appeal of a Rhodes-Punk feud, it remains entirely possible that Rhodes is destined to dethrone Zayn.

Nonetheless, SmackDown’s championship landscape features numerous moving variables, including Punk, Kevin Owens, and Money in the Briefcase holder Penta. With Zayn expected to wrap up his mandated Crown Jewel rivalry with Roman Reigns following Saturday’s premium live event, the path clears for Zayn and Rhodes to renew hostilities in the coming weeks, despite the hostile reception from the Riyadh crowd.

As for Orton, the conclusive finish of his Crown Jewel encounter strongly hints at an upcoming hiatus, alongside a strategic transition to the Raw brand. With the top tier of SmackDown heavily congested, Orton’s defeat leaves little indication of an immediate return to the championship scene.