Randy Orton kicked off tonight’s SmackDown and said he’s going to become the Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania 42 for his family. Cody Rhodes came out and attacked Orton. Pat McAfee returned and turned heel by hitting Cody with a low-blow. Pat joined forces with Randy and revealed that he was on the phone with Orton.
McAfee noted that he said in a Q&A a few weeks back that he won’t return to WWE because the business has passed him by, but in reality, he just thought that WWE programming became sh*t. Randy told him the same.
Pat said whatever Cody does, it’s a slap in the face of the Attitude Era fans like him that helped push WWE to what it is today. McAfee questioned why he sees 5-foot-5 guys in 45 minute ironman matches when you have a 6-foot-5 Randy Orton in the WWE.
McAfee also questioned why WrestleMania 42 tickets are still available, and blamed it on Cody’s reign as champion. McAfee said Randy needs to end all of this to save the business.
McAfee and Orton left together and McAfee said: “Sometimes you gotta remind people that they’re in the G.O.A.T conversation, about to take the G.O.A.T spot to save the business.”
Later in the show, Cody Rhodes came out and attacked Kit Wilson. Rhodes then took a shot at McAfee being the mystery person Orton was talking to on the phone by saying:
“That’s like if Scott Hall and Kevin Nash talked about the third man in the nWo and instead of Hulk Hogan, it was Disco Inferno. Pat — you, stoner, grifter, Logan Paul without muscles, human hat rack, fly by night. You’re going to get your receipt.”
After his heel turn, McAfee tweeted the following:
“I will make a deal with the IWC now..
If Randy Orton doesn’t win at Mania.. I will NEVER be seen OR HEARD on wrestling television AGAIN.”
You can watch the video he posted below:
I will make a deal with the IWC now..
If @RandyOrton doesn’t win at Mania.. I will NEVER be seen OR HEARD on wrestling television AGAIN.@BustedOpenRadio @WrestleOps @WrestleTalk_TV @twcworldwide @Fightful @BehindTheBuckle @EliteClubS0B pic.twitter.com/dnn44ftMha
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 4, 2026
The decision to put Pat McAfee into the massive Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton storyline wasn’t a typical move from the WWE writing team. According to PWInsider, this didn’t start as a creative idea from Triple H or his writers. Instead, it was reportedly an order from the higher-ups at TKO. Some sources even believe the directive came straight from Ari Emanuel, who runs the parent company and also happens to be McAfee’s agent.
The goal behind this move is mostly about business and promotion. Since ESPN is broadcasting its first-ever WrestleMania this year, WWE wanted a way to bridge the gap between sports fans and wrestling fans.
McAfee is a powerhouse on ESPN. By putting him in the main event picture, WWE gives the sports network a huge reason to promote WrestleMania 42 to a mainstream audience.
While it might feel sudden to some fans, the move is designed to make the event feel like a must-watch sports spectacle for people who might not usually tune into wrestling.
While the writers are now tasked with making it work on TV, it’s clear that the suits in the front office are the ones who pulled the strings on this one.
Also Read: 6 Title Changes Expected At WrestleMania 42
