Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match at WWE Crown Jewel after finishing his former mentor with a punt.
Rhodes won the show’s opening match at The Venue in Riyadh after Orton failed to answer referee Charles Robinson’s 10-count.
The finish provided a reversal of their WrestleMania 42 encounter, when Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship before Orton attacked him and delivered a punt after the match.
Saturday’s encounter moved around ringside, through the crowd and onto the entrance stage, with both men using weapons throughout.
Orton powerbombed Rhodes through a table on the stage, while Rhodes later climbed a ladder alongside the Arabic announce desk and attempted a dive onto Orton. Orton moved, sending Rhodes through the table, but Rhodes regained his feet at nine.
An RKO also failed to keep Rhodes down.
Late in the match, Rhodes brought the steel steps and a chair into the ring and positioned Orton on the steps. The crowd booed as Rhodes appeared ready to strike him with the chair, before Orton countered with a low blow.
Rhodes responded by hitting three consecutive Cross Rhodes, with Orton’s head striking the steel steps during the sequence. Orton emerged bleeding but managed to rise before the count of 10.
Rather than allowing Robinson to complete the count, Rhodes stopped the referee.
He then backed into the corner and delivered the punt to Orton, who rolled over as the count reached nine but could not return to his feet.
Rhodes was therefore declared the winner at 27:24.
The rivalry had continued through the summer after Orton returned at SummerSlam and cost Rhodes an Undisputed WWE Championship match against CM Punk.
