WrestleMania 42 Builds to Rhodes-Orton Clash Amid Fan Backlash

As WrestleMania 42 approaches on April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, WWE's flagship event faces a mix of high anticipation and fan backlash over its main storyline and celebrity integrations. The two-night spectacle, returning to the Nevada city just a year after its previous hosting, will be headlined on Night One by Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defending against Randy Orton, a matchup rooted in their shared history from Orton's mentorship of Rhodes in the group Legacy during Rhodes' early WWE days.

The buildup has intensified following a chaotic episode of Friday Night SmackDown on April 10 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Rhodes sought revenge against Orton and his unlikely ally, former NFL player and broadcaster Pat McAfee, after their alliance formed last week. McAfee, who has aligned with Orton in a bid to challenge the current WWE direction, delivered a provocative promo mocking fans and announcing a 25 percent discount on Night One tickets as a jab at rising prices. The segment escalated into a brawl, with McAfee distracting Rhodes to allow Orton to hit an RKO through the broadcast table. Orton and McAfee then took possession of the...