Cody Rhodes may have walked away victorious at WWE Crown Jewel 2026, but the crowd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, made it clear that not everyone was behind The American Nightmare. Rhodes faced Randy Orton in a brutal Last Man Standing Match, and the audience repeatedly targeted him with some very noticeable chants throughout the contest.
During the match, members of the crowd could be heard chanting “Overrated!” and “You suck!” at Rhodes. The reaction was particularly interesting considering Cody was battling Orton, the man who had brutally attacked him following their WrestleMania 42 encounter.
The match itself was an absolute war. Rhodes and Orton wasted little time taking their fight outside the ring, using everything from steel steps and kendo sticks to trash cans and tables. Orton repeatedly punished Rhodes, including sending him through a table with a powerbomb.
Things got even uglier when Rhodes attempted a high-risk attack from a ladder near the announce desk. Orton managed to move out of the way, sending Cody crashing through the table instead. Somehow, Rhodes managed to beat the referee’s ten-count and continue fighting.
The closing moments saw both men becoming increasingly desperate. Orton connected with an RKO and later attempted his devastating Punt Kick, but Rhodes avoided it and answered with a Cody Cutter.
Rhodes eventually connected with multiple Cross Rhodes, including three consecutive executions of the move. Orton struck the steel steps during the sequence and was left bleeding as referee Charles Robinson checked on him.
However, Rhodes wasn’t satisfied with simply winning. He stopped Robinson from counting and delivered a vicious Punt Kick of his own to Orton. The Viper couldn’t recover, allowing Rhodes to secure the Last Man Standing victory.
Despite winning one of the most physical matches of the night, Rhodes had to deal with a hostile reaction from portions of the Riyadh crowd. The repeated “Overrated” and “You suck” chants added another layer to an already personal rivalry, especially as Rhodes continued showing the ruthless side of himself that Orton had helped bring out.
Cody Rhodes may have settled the score with Randy Orton at Crown Jewel, but the crowd’s reaction raises questions about how audiences are responding to The American Nightmare as his character becomes increasingly aggressive.
What do you think about the crowd chanting “Overrated” and “You suck” at Cody Rhodes during WWE Crown Jewel 2026? Do you think WWE should lean into this reaction moving forward? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
