Cody Rhodes' Injuries from Randy Orton Heel Turn Shown in Gruesome Photos Ahead of WWE WrestleMania

WWE's official X account posted photos of a bloodied Cody Rhodes following his attack at the hands of Randy Orton on Friday night.

SmackDown concluded with a contract signing involving Rhodes and Orton in anticipation of their WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 42.

The segment started with the two longtime friends showing respect for each other, but Orton shocked the WWE Universe when he bashed Rhodes' head on the table and kicked him below the belt.

Orton proceeded to launch a long and uncomfortable attack against Rhodes, busting him open and hitting him with a steel chair. It concluded when The Viper executed a modified con-chair-to of sorts, as he hit Cody with a chair while trapped inside the crevice of the ring stairs.

Last month, Orton won the men's Elimination Chamber match by last pinning Rhodes due to interference from then-WWE champion Drew McIntyre.

That prompted SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis to force McIntyre to defend the title against Rhodes on last week's SmackDown. The American Nightmare won the match and the title, setting up a match against Orton at WrestleMania 42.

It was widely expected that Rhodes and Orton would engage in a friendly rivalry, but that theory was turned on its head Friday night when The Viper went back to his villainous roots and imposed his will on Rhodes.

Now, there is massive heat between Rhodes and Orton, making their feud and WrestleMania match infinitely more compelling.

Based on how the next few weeks of build go, it could very well be worthy of the Night 1 main event spot, which is something most fans likely wouldn't have thought before the SmackDown attack occurred.