Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton’s WrestleMania Night 1 match ended in bizarre fashion, capping off what the New York Post called a complete ‘dud’ of an evening for WWE’s biggest event of the year.
The wrestling world woke up today to harsh criticism of Saturday night’s WrestleMania festivities. The New York Post didn’t hold back in their coverage, describing the entire first night as riddled with problems that went far beyond just one disappointing match.
Rhodes, who has become one of WWE’s top stars since returning to the company, faced off against Randy Orton in what should have been a highlight of the evening. Instead, the match apparently concluded in such an odd way that it became a talking point for all the wrong reasons.
Orton, known as ‘The Viper’ for his calculated in-ring style, has been a WWE mainstay for over two decades. His experience usually means smooth, well-executed matches even when storylines get complicated. That makes the reported bizarre finish even more surprising.
“WWE’s WrestleMania Night 1 dud was riddled with issues, bizzare Cody Rhodes -Randy Orton finish” – @nypost
WrestleMania represents WWE’s Super Bowl. It’s the event that draws casual fans back to wrestling and showcases the company’s biggest storylines of the year. When a WrestleMania night gets labeled a ‘dud’ by major media outlets, it stings for everyone involved.
Rhodes has been on a remarkable journey since leaving WWE years ago. He built his reputation in other promotions before making a triumphant return. Fans have rallied behind his story, making any disappointing match involving him feel like a missed opportunity.
The Post’s criticism suggests the problems weren’t limited to one match. When an outlet describes an entire WrestleMania night as ‘riddled with issues,’ it points to systemic problems with pacing, execution, or creative decisions that affected multiple segments.
Wrestling fans are notoriously passionate about their entertainment, and WrestleMania disappointments tend to generate significant discussion across social media. The event commands premium pricing and months of anticipation, so when it doesn’t deliver, reactions can be swift and unforgiving.
For WWE, having WrestleMania Night 1 receive this kind of negative coverage from mainstream media outlets like the Post represents a public relations challenge. The company typically uses WrestleMania to attract new viewers and showcase their product at its best.
Rhodes and Orton are both skilled performers who have delivered memorable matches throughout their careers. That makes reports of a bizarre finish particularly puzzling. Wrestling matches can go wrong for various reasons, from injury concerns to miscommunication, but WrestleMania matches usually get extra attention and rehearsal time.
The wrestling community will likely spend considerable time analyzing what went wrong Saturday night. When WrestleMania doesn’t meet expectations, it becomes a topic of discussion that extends well beyond the wrestling bubble into mainstream sports and entertainment coverage.
WWE still has WrestleMania Night 2 to potentially redeem the weekend. The company often splits their biggest storylines across both nights, giving them another chance to deliver the memorable moments fans expect from their premier event.
The Post’s coverage suggests that Saturday night’s problems were significant enough to overshadow whatever positive moments may have occurred. For a company that prides itself on entertainment value and production quality, that kind of criticism from major media outlets represents a notable setback in what should have been a celebration of their biggest annual event.
