The King of the Ring Match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton finely culminated at the Night of Champions in Riyadh, an event that left many with appreciating, worrying, and nervousness simultaneously. Rhodes won that match by pinning Orton after he had a chance when the Viper had his back turned against the turnbuckle. However, with the cheers, everyone saw the desperate looking Orton who looked obviously in pain with a limp as he walked out of ring.
He left rather suddenly with Rhodes lauding him to the crowd as a hero and a mentor and dubbed him a future Hall of Famer, which could not have gone well with injured superstar. The camera picked up how the stoic expression of his changed to a seething one and he walked away without shaking his hand or making any form of contact with Rhodes as is normal after the match.
Frustration and Flares: What Led to the Walkout
Apparently the real patient zero was superplex Randy administered on Rhodes early in the match that forced Rhodes down but at same time crippled his back. It has been reported that Orton has had a long history of dealing with the spinal problem as he even had an operation, and he was absent 18 months and came back in late 2023. In match, Rhodes mercilessly attacked the back area which had been left weak and he centered his attack therein dragging spine of Orton across the ring post and very evidently, it was the theme injury.
Nevertheless, fact that drew attention was not just physical pain. He paused during his trademark punt kick that is limited in WWE due to safety concerns. The confusion at that point gave Rhodes an opportunity to gain upper hand, something that seemed to go against Ortons miscalculation. Still he fought back trying to bash a steel chair in hope of opening up corner but Rhodes moved and landed the winning Cross Rhodes a few seconds later