WWE reached a creative and cultural peak not seen since the glory days of the Attitude Era just a couple years ago when Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and The Rock were blazing the trail towards WrestleMania 40 in 2024. Two years later, and WWE is now depending on a heel turn from Pat McAfee to get fans excited for WrestleMania 42.
Yes, you read that correctly.
The ESPN host showed up on Friday’s edition of Smackdown as the surprise confidant of Randy Orton in his feud with Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. McAfee hadn’t been seen on WWE television since last June when he said he had to take a break from his commentary duties because of his busy schedule.
Just a few weeks ago, McAfee said “that business has kind of passed me by” in suggesting that he wouldn’t be returning to WWE.
But that, as they say in the wrestling business, was a work. Suddenly there he was on Friday night in St. Louis not only returning to the company, but being directly inserted into the show’s main event angle in a prominent role.
YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY I’M HERE…
THAT WAS ME ON THE PHONE #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/mNEMZzw4VJ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 4, 2026
Pat McAfee has done decently well in his off-and-on WWE career as a commentator and energetic personality. He has even shown himself to be more than capable when he has stepped into the ring. But a sudden heel turn and appearance in a WWE championship match angle screams desperation and some of the most nonsensical decisions in recent memory.
The story between Orton and Rhodes should write itself. The two were stablemates in The Legacy years ago but have never had a top feud against each other. The segment that set the stage for their main event was electric with Rhodes giving Orton permission to bring out his most vicious side ahead of their match.
In recent weeks, WWE has teased Orton calling upon backup in a series of backstage phone calls. Fans had been intrigued by who it could be that could connect to the story – his father “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Kevin Owens, another returning superstar? Instead it was a commentator who has no previous history with either individual? The only thing Orton and McAfee have in common is they like to punt things.
If the idea was suspect, the execution was even worse. McAfee tried to explain his bizarre presence by taking a dump on Rhodes and the current WWE product in his promo. His entire reason for being there was that he and Orton are going to “save the business.”
WHY IS ALL THIS IS HAPPENING…
WHEN RANDY ORTON IS AROUND#SmackDown https://t.co/yfEwglo4cE pic.twitter.com/EeDaTarYT2
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 4, 2026
Nothing sells tickets for WrestleMania like telling the fans that what they are watching actively sucks. McAfee even mentioned tickets still being on sale for WrestleMania and Smackdown having its worst rated episode of all time! Feel the excitement!
Furthermore, McAfee’s heel turn took place in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis. WWE fans have been cheering Orton in spite of his vicious heel tendencies because they like what they see from the legend. Of course they were going to cheer this stunning turn of events in his hometown.
Rhodes then came back out later in the show (to a mixed reaction) to defend himself and the current state of the wrestling industry.
But that wasn’t all, Rhodes then took it into a worked shoot direction by referencing powers that be and the people that represent McAfee, taking what should have been a layup of a wrestling story into a bizarro world that Vince Russo would be proud of.
“What are you gonna do? Fire me? It sure worked out for you the last time.” @CodyRhodes is NOT holding back 😳 pic.twitter.com/vH37jN5CB1
— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2026
In case you’re wondering who or what Rhodes is referencing, it’s likely a nod to TKO CEO Ari Emanuel now personally representing Pat McAfee according to Bloomberg. And moreover, Emanuel reportedly believes that McAfee could be “the next Sylvester Stallone” as a movie star.
What better way to try to prove those acting chops than by Pat McAfee taking a starring role on the road to WrestleMania?
WWE fan dissatisfaction with TKO has been rising and rising in recent times. The company has already moved next year’s WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia in an enormous cashgrab to put the final gloss on the country’s sportswashing efforts and overall ticket prices are becoming exorbitant.
Furthermore, Emanuel’s connection with Travis Scott was reportedly one of the reasons why he was involved in last year’s WrestleMania main event between Rhodes and John Cena that was an unmitigated disaster. And now history appears to be repeating itself with Emanuel possibly dictating that one of his guys receives all the attention once again. If WWE is just going to become a very expensive playground for Ari Emanuel’s friends, then the only winners will be Tony Khan and AEW.
WWE could deny that Emanuel had any influence in placing McAfee into WrestleMania season, but regardless of whether it’s a creative decision or an executive edict, it’s a move that has been very poorly received.
The incredible irony of Pat McAfee representing the establishment in a WWE storyline shouldn’t be lost on anyone. Even though he paints himself as a rebel, he makes it well known that he has very high friends in very high places including Emanuel, fellow WWE exec Nick Khan, and ESPN execs like Burke Magnus and Jimmy Pitaro. Art is imitating life here to the fullest.
McAfee has never taken criticism well, especially when it comes to WWE fans. How in the world is he going to keep his composure now? How is he going to balance his new WWE heel persona and happy-go-lucky ESPN persona? And just how far is ESPN now going to go in selling WrestleMania (live on the ESPN app) to the masses now that one of their biggest stars is in the main event picture? The only thing missing is Stephen A. Smith showing up in Cody’s corner.
As much as fans revolted against last year’s WrestleMania main event, fans were outraged by what they saw between McAfee, Rhodes, and Orton to levels never before seen.
The episode of Friday Night Smackdown is currently one of the lowest rated wrestling shows of all-time on the Cagematch database with a 0.35 rating. That rating falls just ahead of the infamous 1999 Heroes of Wrestling show where Jake “The Snake” Roberts wrestled visibly drunk. Do you realize how many terrible wrestling moments and shows have happened over the years to achieve that level of infamy? At least Pat McAfee, Ari Emanuel, and WWE can say they accomplished something that was previously unthinkable.
