Cody Rhodes was stretchered out of the arena after WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event went off the air.
The American Nightmare retained the Undisputed WWE Championship over Kevin Owens after bringing back the iconic Winged Eagle design for one night only.
However, fan footage being shared on social media shows KO attacking him after the show ended, and hitting him with the Package Piledriver.
Piledrivers, and its variations, have been banned in WWE for a long time, and the move involves a wrestler grabbing their opponent, turning them upside down, and usually dropping into a sitting position.
This drives the other person’s head into the mat, and there have been moments in the past where the move has gone badly wrong, including ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin breaking his neck in a match with Owen Hart.
After the attack, KO stole the title belt and left the arena, while Rhodes was loaded onto a stretcher and taken out of the ring.
When Owens reached the end of the ramp, he got into a shoving match with real life boss Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, who appeared furious over his actions.
WWE has found unique ways to continue KO’s storyline in recent months, and his blurring the lines is another fascinating way to keep fans guessing.
WWE is yet to acknowledge the attack on its social media accounts, but it follows a similar incident on SmackDown last month when KO attacked Randy Orton with the same move.
KO – who was involved in a ‘terrifying’ dune buggy crash days earlier, before Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia – brought the Piledriver back as he took his rivalry with Orton to another level, spiking him in the middle of the ring.
‘There’s a reason that damn move is banned,’ shouted legendary commentator Michael Cole, as fans gasped in shock and officially ushered KO away.
Selling the severity of the situation, they put Orton’s neck in a brace, and got him onto a stretcher, with Cody Rhodes by his side as he was wheeled to an ambulance.
Elsewhere at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the inaugural Women’s United States Champion was crowned as Chelsea Green pinned Michin in the tournament final.
Liv Morgan and GUNTHER held onto their respective world championships, with Morgan beating Iyo Sky and the Ring General outlasting Finn Balor and Damian Priest.
And in the opening bout, Drew McIntyre started his fight against The OG Bloodline with a win over Sami Zayn.
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