Stephen A. Smith’s involvement with WWE may be moving beyond promotional appearances and into something more significant, with Dave Meltzer reporting serious internal discussions about working with the ESPN personality and widespread support for the idea from people within the company.
Meltzer discussed the situation on Wrestling Observer Radio, noting a notable difference between reactions to Smith and to Pat McAfee’s involvement in the WrestleMania 42 build.
The internal enthusiasm for Smith is notable, given the well-documented unhappiness among WWE staff over McAfee’s involvement in WrestleMania 42, which was reportedly pushed by TKO CEO Ari Emanuel rather than Triple H’s creative team. That the same group of people who objected to McAfee are actively in favor of Smith suggests a meaningful distinction in how he is perceived within the company.
Smith has already established a presence in WWE’s orbit. He collaborated with the promotion in the build to WrestleMania 42 through ESPN, with Danhausen cursing him ahead of Night One and Smith himself appearing in the crowd at the show where he was met with boos from the audience. ESPN Unlimited has been broadcasting WWE premium live events in the United States since Wrestlepalooza in September 2025.
WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select previously reported that ESPN sources were pleased and enthusiastic about the prospect of Smith becoming more formally involved in the WWE partnership, with a specific payoff to his involvement expected to materialize in summer 2026.