Here’s the latest on Cody Rhodes’ eye injury:
- Reports last week indicated Cody Rhodes sustained a serious eye injury during WrestleMania 42 Night One, with swelling and blood visible around the left eye. WWE stated he required facial sutures and head staples, and he was placed in concussion protocol as a precaution, though it wasn’t clear he suffered a concussion.[2][4]
- Subsequent updates suggested there was no orbital bone fracture, and there was continued medical evaluation to determine if he would be cleared for WWE Backlash or other events in May 2026. Sources noted that his return timetable remained uncertain at that time.[6][2]
- Rhodes himself posted updates indicating doctors told him he wouldn’t lose the eye, which he described humorously in social media posts as a positive yet absurd remark from a doctor, while he stayed in recovery and awaited clearance.[5][8]
- Coverage from multiple outlets in mid-late April 2026 emphasized that while Rhodes remained in recovery, there was no definitive confirmation of a long-term absence due to orbital injury, and the decision about his Backlash status depended on ongoing medical evaluation.[2][6]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official statements or summaries from WWE and major wrestling outlets and provide a concise timeline with current status and any announced return date.
Sources
As previously reported, Undisputed WWE Champion "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes suffered a significant eye injury during his title match against "The Viper" Randy Orton at WWE WrestleMania 42 Night One on Saturday, which Rhodes ultimately won. After the match, his eye was swollen shut, and it was speculated that the injury occurred either from a punch thrown by Orton during a slugfest or from the spot involving the Cody Cutter into the RKO. WWE announced that Rhodes required three sutures...
rajah.comWWE champion Cody Rhodes provided an update Wednesday on the eye injury he suffered during his WrestleMania 42 match against Randy Orton.
bleacherreport.comCody Rhodes didn't exactly look like a winner following his successful title defense against Randy Orton in the main event of WrestleMania 42's first night.
bleacherreport.comAn update has emerged regarding Cody Rhodes following the eye injury he suffered at WrestleMania 42 Night One.
www.pwmania.comCody Rhodes may have walked out of WrestleMania 42 still holding gold, but he didn’t leave unscathed. Following his showdown with Randy Orton, Rhodes was
wrestlingheadlines.comRandy Orton failed to become a 15-time WWE World champion after the main event of WrestleMania 42's first night, but he took pieces of Cody Rhodes with him in defeat.
www.yardbarker.comCody Rhodes got severely injured in his main event match with Randy Orton last Saturday at WrestleMania 42. WWE said in its statement via Jackie Redmond that Rh
m.dailyhunt.inCody Rhodes suffered an eye injury last night, one of the battle wounds from his war against Randy Orton in the main event of the show.
www.wrestling-online.comCody Rhodes suffered a brutal injury at WrestleMania, which has become one of the most talked-about issues of the past weekend.
www.sportskeeda.comCody Rhodes retained the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42 Night One—but the win came at a cost. Rhodes emerged from a chaotic main event that featured a clunky finish, including Pat McAfee getting re-involved after earlier being taken out by Rhodes and Jelly Roll.
www.yardbarker.com