Randy Orton was left covered in blood during his main event showdown with Cody Rhodes at WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event.
The Viper and Rhodes had already taken their fight beyond the ring before the match officially got underway. Their physical confrontation continued once the bell rang, with both stars targeting each other throughout the contest.
The situation took a brutal turn late in the match.
After Rhodes had already weathered several attacks from Orton, the former WWE Champion found himself on the receiving end of a vicious exchange at ringside. Rhodes grabbed the top portion of the steel steps and drove them directly into Orton’s head.
The impact immediately opened a wound on Orton’s forehead.
Blood began pouring down The Viper’s face, leaving him with a crimson mask as Rhodes continued to attack the injured veteran. Orton was visibly covered in blood as the match reached its closing moments.
Despite the injury, Orton refused to stay down. Rhodes attempted to put the match away, but the situation became increasingly chaotic after multiple referee-related incidents.
“The Viper” eventually found an opening. He struck Rhodes with a low blow before delivering an RKO.
With the original referee back in the ring, Orton covered Rhodes and secured the three-count.
Randy Orton defeated Cody Rhodes in the main event, but the victory came at a physical cost. The steel steps left Orton visibly bloodied, providing one of the most memorable images from the match.
WWE did not indicate that Orton suffered a serious injury from the incident during the broadcast. The bleeding, however, made the attack look particularly severe and added another layer of intensity to an already heated encounter between the two former allies.
