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Tag: Pat McAfee

  • Pat McAfee And Wife Samantha Welcome Baby Boy

    Pat McAfee And Wife Samantha Welcome Baby Boy

    Pat McAfee and his wife, Samantha, have welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Midas Robert McAfee, born on May 22 via emergency C-section following a high-risk pregnancy complicated by severe preeclampsia.

    McAfee shared the news on social media.

    “Please help Samantha, Mackenzie, and I welcome Midas Robert McAfee to our family. Due to Samantha having a high risk pregnancy and severe preeclampsia, the decision was made to have an emergency C-Section on Friday night. Baby boy officially entered the world on May 22nd at 10:42PM as a 6lb 6oz screaming young legend. 10 Toes, 10 Fingers, full head of hair.”

    Midas was born at 36 weeks and initially was able to join his parents in their room, but was later sent to the NICU to help his lungs develop further.

    “Literally in his first moments of life, Midas was working. He was able to get his O2 Levels high enough to be able to come hang with us in our room and because of that we got to do all of the immediate magical newborn moments. Skin to skin, 10,000 kisses, tons of love, all of that. Inevitably, since he came into the world at 36 Weeks, he had to develop his lungs a little bit more, get some fluid out of him, and adjust a bit to life outside of Sam’s stomach.”

    McAfee described bouncing between Samantha’s recovery room and the NICU while staying positive.

    “As mom was recovering like a badass from the mind boggling C-Section surgery, little dude was down the hall. They put a CPAP on our guy, a feeding tube, and put him in a heated pod with a heating lamp to help him develop a bit more. There wasn’t much I could do other than bring positive vibes as I bounced back and forth between the 2.”

    Midas spent roughly 36 hours in the NICU before being released back to their room. McAfee explained the meaning behind the name, tracing it back to his freshman year of high school.

    “The name ‘Midas’ has been the name I’d hoped to name my baby boy since my Freshman year of high school when Mrs. Nonnenberg taught me about Greek Mythology. Like most, when you come from not a lot, the thought of everything you touch becoming gold was certainly an immediate draw for me but in this world that we live in, gold can only come from working your ass off, getting lucky, and having great folks around you.”

    The middle name Robert honors Samantha’s late father.

    “‘Robert’ is a tribute to Samantha’s dad and best friend. A man that we lost way too soon a couple of years back and will now live on forever thru Mighty Midas.”

    Samantha had revealed in November 2025 that she and Pat were expecting a boy after an emotional IVF journey. The family is hoping to return home soon so their three-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, can meet her baby brother.

  • Cody Rhodes and Pat McAfee Break Character To Reunite at WWE Event

    Cody Rhodes and Pat McAfee Break Character To Reunite at WWE Event

    Cody Rhodes and Pat McAfee recently broke character and reunited publicly at Disney’s 2026 Upfront event in New York City.

    Before WrestleMania 42, Rhodes was involved in a feud with Randy Orton. The storyline took a controversial turn when McAfee was revealed as Orton’s mystery caller.

    McAfee turned heel and even attacked ‘The American Nightmare’ several times. Rhodes also destroyed McAfee’s studio set, with both going back and forth in promos and online.

    However, that’s all in the rearview mirror. The duo was seen sitting side-by-side just weeks after their heated WrestleMania 42 feud. The appearance marked a break from kayfabe as WWE promoted its new streaming partnership with ESPN and Disney+.

    The WWE Champion and the former NFL star attended an ESPN College GameDay-style panel together, despite their recent on-screen rivalry. Rhodes later posted photos from the event on his social media.

    WWE and Disney Partnership

    The appearance was part of Disney’s presentation to advertisers after WWE announced its major new deal with ESPN and Disney+. As per reports, the five-year, $1.6 billion agreement will bring WWE Premium Live Events exclusively to ESPN platforms.

  • Why Pat McAfee Backed Out Of Post-WrestleMania 42 Plans

    Why Pat McAfee Backed Out Of Post-WrestleMania 42 Plans

    NFL legend Pat McAfee had opted out of WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 plans after the negative reaction he received when revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery caller.

    The former NFL punter was unveiled on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, just two weeks before the biggest show of the year. The chaos surrounding McAfee’s involvement in the Orton and Cody Rhodes program now has a clearer explanation. The reaction from fans when McAfee was revealed as the mystery caller directly influenced his decision to step away from the planned storyline.

    Mystery Caller Reveal Falls Flat

    McAfee’s appearance on SmackDown was intended to build momentum heading into WrestleMania 42. The mystery caller angle had been a key component of the Orton-Rhodes feud in the weeks leading up to the Premium Live Event.

    As per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, McAfee opted out of the angle, and that decision is what led to the broader changes to the plans surrounding WrestleMania 42 and Backlash.

    Meltzer said:

    “With the Pat McAfee thing, he opted out. That’s what actually led to everything changing….And then he opted out again.

    “That’s why the tag match from Backlash was taken off. Orton and McAfee against Jelly Roll and Cody Rhodes, which Cody Rhodes may not be okay for Backlash anyway, you know with that eye.”

    The negative fan response appears to have led McAfee to reconsider his involvement in the post-WrestleMania plans WWE had for him. Meltzer said:

    “I was told that the belief was that it was due to the reaction that he pulled out. It wasn’t like anything else.”

    McAfee has made sporadic appearances for WWE since his initial run with the company. He previously worked as a commentator on SmackDown and has competed in several high-profile matches, including bouts at WrestleMania.

  • Jelly Roll: Pat McAfee & I Had No Business at WrestleMania

    Jelly Roll: Pat McAfee & I Had No Business at WrestleMania

    Jelly Roll had a simple mission heading into WrestleMania 42, and he delivered on it in spectacular fashion.

    The country music star appeared in a post-show vlog from his suite at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, reflecting on a night that saw him drop an elbow through an announce table onto Pat McAfee during the main event. Jelly Roll was in Cody Rhodes’ corner for the WWE Championship match against Randy Orton, while McAfee sided with Orton after turning heel.

    “I had one goal tonight and I kind of succeeded,” Jelly Roll said in the vlog. “Pat, I love you, man. Neither one of us had any business here.”

    The sequence unfolded when Rhodes threw McAfee onto the announce table, setting the stage for Jelly Roll to run from a neighboring table and deliver a leaping elbow drop that shattered the table entirely. McAfee was carted out on a stretcher, though he was spotted later that evening at a concert, neck brace and all.

    In the vlog, Jelly Roll joked about a photo of himself levitating over McAfee during the impact. “There’s going to be a picture of me somewhere levitating over Pat McAfee and I’m going to have to frame it,” he said.

    The night also drew praise from Jelly Roll for the broader show, calling the Oba Femi segment involving Brock Lesnar “one of the more emotional surprises of the night” and describing the six-man ladder match as a standout.

  • Pat McAfee Announces Wrestling Retirement After WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee Announces Wrestling Retirement After WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee announced his retirement from professional wrestling on his ESPN show following WWE WrestleMania 42. The former WWE commentator and performer honored a pre-match promise he made before the main event.

    McAfee declared before WrestleMania that he would walk away from wrestling if Randy Orton failed to defeat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. With Rhodes retaining his title, McAfee confirmed he’s keeping his word.

    “The good news is, the business doesn’t need to be saved after all,” McAfee said. “And good for them. And for me, I finished my story.”

    McAfee Reflects on Wrestling Journey

    The ESPN personality detailed his extensive career path through professional wrestling during his announcement. McAfee highlighted the various roles he held throughout his time in the business.

    “I came up in the indies, IWA East Coast,” he said. “I went through development, NXT. I was a wrestler, trained by Rip Rogers, the same guy that trained everybody that’s retiring kind of currently, out of OVW.”

    McAfee continued listing his accomplishments. “Get to WWE, commentated, lucky to do that. Did pre-shows, lucky to do that. Wrestled, lucky to do that. Reffed, lucky to do that. Managed, lucky to do that. It’s been a hell of a run. Thank you, wrestling. It was an honor to be over there.”

    WrestleMania 42 Involvement

    McAfee was involved in the Rhodes vs. Orton main event at WrestleMania 42. He was put through a table by Jelly Roll during the match and received an RKO from Orton.

    “Maybe he didn’t know it was me,” McAfee said about the RKO. “[But] it felt like he knew.”

    McAfee has appeared in a neck brace following the event, selling the physical toll of his WrestleMania appearance. He was spotted celebrating with Tyrese Haliburton at a 50 Cent concert while still wearing the brace.

    “The wrestling business just kind of, rearview mirror,” McAfee said. “And to the wrestling business, I’d like to say: thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.”

  • Pat McAfee Details Injuries From WrestleMania 42 Attack

    Pat McAfee Details Injuries From WrestleMania 42 Attack

    Pat McAfee has detailed the physical toll WrestleMania 42 took on his body, revealing he is wearing a neck brace and awaiting scan results after being put through a table by Jelly Roll and hit with an RKO by the man he came to support.

    Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show the day after the event, McAfee walked through his injuries from a night that began with him being laid out on the announce table by Cody Rhodes before Jelly Roll delivered an elbow drop through it, and ended with Randy Orton hitting him with an RKO after Rhodes kicked out of a pin McAfee was counting as a replacement referee.

    “I’m wearing this thing since I got Jelly Roll’d,” McAfee said of the neck brace. “I’m wearing this just to keep it secure. They ran scans. I’ll get it back tomorrow morning. I’m very grateful and hopeful that I will be completely healthy. But there is some soreness, obviously.”

    The neck was not the only thing he came away with. “Got some cuts and bruises, too. Hand right here, cut. I think that’s because the table exploded. I got some shrapnel, and somehow I got a splinter in my crotch.”

    He also addressed the concern that came from how he appeared after being stretchered out during the match. “I did want to let everybody know that I am okay, just in case people were worried, because I did seem lifeless there for a bit.”

    Despite the physical damage and the mission failing, McAfee spoke generously about Rhodes and acknowledged the result spoke for itself.

    “So I would like to let everybody know that although the mission was supposed to be Randy Orton saving the business, I think what happened instead was Cody Rhodes proving he’s the one,” McAfee said. “Cody Rhodes was obviously very admirable. Randy Orton is still everything that I said he was, but the good news is the business doesn’t need to be saved after all.”

    McAfee confirmed his departure from WWE following the WrestleMania 42 weekend, having set that stipulation himself before the show.

  • Pat McAfee’s Wife Makes Claim About His Wrestling Future

    Pat McAfee’s Wife Makes Claim About His Wrestling Future

    Pat McAfee’s wife has reacted to the turn of events.

    The former NFL star had promised that he would leave WWE for good if Randy Orton did not win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. The Viper himself then gave him an RKO when McAfee failed to help him earn his 15th world title at the Show of Shows, signaling the end of their partnership.

    Another sign that Pat might be done with the company for a while came in the form of an Instagram story from his wife, Samantha McAfee. She posted a photo of her husband in a neck brace on Sunday, and claimed that it was the first morning since 2017 when he was completely out of the wrestling business:

    It was originally reported that Randy Orton would win the WWE title at the show and Pat McAfee would be involved in a big match at Backlash.

    Plans seem to have changed in the last few weeks, however, with the largely negative reaction to the former Raw commentator’s involvement in the feud between the two former friends.

    Though Orton still ended Night 1 of WrestleMania by giving Cody Rhodes a nasty injury. So it appears that the feud between them would continue, or at least be revisited down the line, but without the celebrity involvement.

  • Pat McAfee Done With WWE After WrestleMania 42 Loss

    Pat McAfee Done With WWE After WrestleMania 42 Loss

    Pat McAfee is done with WWE, and his wife made it official on Instagram Saturday morning.

    Following Randy Orton’s loss to Cody Rhodes in the WrestleMania 42 Night One main event, McAfee’s wife posted to her Instagram story confirming it was the first morning since 2017 that her husband was completely out of the wrestling business. The post put into effect the stipulation McAfee had placed on himself before the show, when he publicly vowed that if Orton failed to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, he would walk away from WWE for good.

    Orton lost. The stipulation went into effect. McAfee is out.

    The send-off was not a quiet one. McAfee absorbed punishment during the Night One main event, taking a Cross Rhodes from Cody Rhodes, going through a table courtesy of Jelly Roll, and being stretchered out of the arena. He returned to the ring later in the match only to receive an RKO from Orton himself. Despite all of it, McAfee was spotted later that night at a 50 Cent concert with Tyrese Haliburton, still wearing a neck brace.

    McAfee had been part of WWE in various capacities since 2017, most prominently as a SmackDown commentator and occasional in-ring performer.

    Rhodes himself had addressed the McAfee involvement in the Rhodes vs. Orton build directly on SmackDown in an unscripted promo, while CM Punk called McAfee a tourist who forgot he was invited into the business. Whether McAfee’s departure marks a permanent exit from the wrestling world or simply the end of his WWE run remains to be seen.

  • WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Results: Cody Rhodes Retains, Orton RKOs McAfee, Paige & Breakker Return

    WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Results: Cody Rhodes Retains, Orton RKOs McAfee, Paige & Breakker Return

    WrestleMania 42 Night 1 is in the books from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and Randy Orton stood tall holding Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship over his head — the belt he couldn’t win, but the message he wanted to send. Cody retained. Pat McAfee ate an RKO from his own guy and is gone from the wrestling business per the stipulation. Three women’s titles changed hands. Paige returned after more than eight years away. Bron Breakker reemerged from his hernia-surgery layoff to spear Seth Rollins in half. And Bianca Belair announced a pregnancy.

    Quick Results

    • LA Knight & The Usos def. The Vision (Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed)
    • Jacob Fatu def. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match)
    • Paige & Brie Bella def. Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c), Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria to win the Women’s Tag Team Championship
    • Becky Lynch def. AJ Lee (c) to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship
    • GUNTHER def. Seth Rollins (Bron Breakker returns)
    • Liv Morgan def. Stephanie Vaquer (c) to win the Women’s World Championship
    • Cody Rhodes (c) def. Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

    John Cena Opens WrestleMania 42

    Host John Cena kicked off the show in a suit, delivering the opening address to the Allegiant Stadium crowd. Cena acknowledged that the road to WrestleMania 42 has been “chaotic, unpredictable, vocal and polarizing,” with fans, talent, and people behind the scenes all weighing in on the journey to Las Vegas. He welcomed everyone to WrestleMania, and pyro fired to officially launch Night 1.

    It was Cena’s first televised WWE appearance since retiring from in-ring competition in December 2025.

    Cena later returned to announce the Night 1 attendance at 50,816. That number bumped up to 50,817 when Bianca Belair made a surprise appearance in a robe of sparkly blue roses, told Cena she had one more to add to the count, and opened her robe to reveal a baby bump. Belair has been out of action since last year’s WrestleMania three-way with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky.

    LA Knight & The Usos def. The Vision (Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed)

    LA Knight, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso opened WrestleMania 42 with a win over The Vision’s Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed, but the real story came after the bell.

    Logan Paul turned on IShowSpeed the moment the match ended, screaming that Speed had one job and ruined WrestleMania for him and Austin Theory. Paul threw Speed out of the ring, cleared off the announce table, and laid Speed’s lifeless body across it while calling him a moron.

    Paul climbed to the top rope and lined up a dive through the table, but The Usos and LA Knight stormed back out to stop him and laid Paul out with a beatdown of their own.

    Knight and The Usos hoisted Paul onto the announce table and waved Speed to the top rope. Speed climbed up, measured his shot, and came off with a picture-perfect frog splash that destroyed the table and Paul in the process. LA Knight and The Usos congratulated Speed, walked him back into the ring, and the four celebrated together with a group Yeet as the Allegiant Stadium crowd erupted.

    Jacob Fatu def. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match)

    An absolute war. Jacob Fatu made his entrance flanked by fire dancers, while Drew McIntyre brought back his signature sword for the walk to the ring. Fatu didn’t wait — he hit McIntyre with a suicide dive before the bell rang to set the tone for a fight that had no rules and no one with authority to stop it.

    What followed was a showcase of two hard-hitting brawlers trading shots through multiple table spots and an assortment of weapons, including a toolbox that came into play as the violence escalated. McIntyre also found time for his signature WrestleMania spot, firing off a tweet in the middle of the match.

    Fatu landed consecutive superkicks and a Mighty Moonsault to put McIntyre away at 14:09, sending Allegiant Stadium home from the opening hour with a statement victory over a multi-time world champion.

    Paige Returns, Wins Women’s Tag Team Championship With Brie Bella

    Nia Jax and Lash Legend entered first in gear paying tribute to Demolition’s Ax and Smash, who were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before and seated at ringside. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria followed, and then Nikki Bella came out on crutches alongside Brie. Nikki told the crowd she wasn’t medically cleared, so she’d called in a favor from an old friend.

    Paige was back. Making her first WWE appearance in-ring since the December 2017 neck injury that was believed to be career-ending, the former Divas Champion walked to the WrestleMania ring to a massive reaction from Allegiant Stadium.

    The match worked under a fatal four-way tag structure, with only designated competitors legal and tags required to rotate partners in. Brie connected with her signature Yes Kicks on Flair early, and the bout built toward Alexa Bliss lining up a Twisted Bliss for what looked like the winning pin.

    That’s when Nikki got involved. Still on crutches, she yanked Flair out of the ring and went to work on her, giving Paige just enough time to raise her knees and catch Bliss on the way down. Paige followed with the Rampage on Bliss for the three count, claiming the Women’s Tag Team Championship in her first WWE match in more than eight years and her first singles or tag championship win since the AEW Women’s Championship in 2023.

    Paige and Brie Bella are your new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

    Becky Lynch def. AJ Lee to Win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship

    This was the entrance show. Becky Lynch had The Wonder Years perform her entrance live. AJ Lee walked out flanked by roughly a dozen young fans all wearing matching gear and carrying replica title belts — her first WrestleMania appearance in eleven years, her last being WrestleMania 31 in a tag match alongside Paige, of all people, against the Bella Twins.

    Lynch came in with a lot to avenge. She tapped to the Black Widow at WrestlePalooza, at Survivor Series WarGames, and at Elimination Chamber, where she lost the Women’s Intercontinental title to AJ for the first time. Three prior Lee wins. WrestleMania was Becky’s chance to flip the ledger, and she took it.

    Becky Lynch is a three-time Women’s Intercontinental Champion. The head-to-head singles record between the two is now 1-1 on titles, with AJ still leading the overall head-to-head 3-1 when tag and multi-woman matches are factored in.

    GUNTHER def. Seth Rollins (Bron Breakker Returns)

    Rollins walked to the ring wearing black contacts that turned his eyes fully dark — equal parts creepy and cool, and a callback to the headspace he’s been in heading into this match. GUNTHER wasted no time and jumped him before the bell, turning what fans expected to be a technical wrestling match into a ringside brawl from the opening seconds.

    Once the pace settled, the Ring General took over with trademark chops, slowing Rollins down in the center of the ring. A Buckle Bomb and clothesline from Rollins reset things at the five-minute mark, and the two started trading chops and strikes. GUNTHER answered with a powerbomb and a close near-fall to shift momentum back his way.

    The match hit its highest gear with both men on the top rope. Rollins countered a superplex attempt and drilled GUNTHER with his signature superplex/Falcon Arrow combination, then locked in his own sleeper. GUNTHER reached the ropes to break it, rolled outside, and Rollins followed with three suicide dives. GUNTHER caught him with two powerbombs onto the apron and announce table. When the Ring General went for a third, Rollins countered into a Pedigree and a Curb Stomp through the announce table.

    That’s when WrestleMania flipped. As Rollins celebrated, Bron Breakker’s music hit, the lights exploded, and the man supposedly out of action with a hernia injury charged the ring and speared Rollins in half. GUNTHER rolled back in, locked in the sleeper on the dazed Visionary, and Rollins passed out cold. GUNTHER takes WrestleMania at 15:48.

    Breakker wasn’t done. After the match, he ran the length of the ramp and speared Rollins again, then told him he should have finished him off when he had the chance. Paul Heyman walked out to the top of the ramp and hugged Breakker — making official what the spear already signaled. Breakker is aligned with Heyman and The Vision, and Rollins paid the price.

    The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was then shown on stage, including Demolition, Dennis Rodman, and family members representing Bad News Brown, Hulk Hogan (joined by longtime friend Jimmy Hart), Andre the Giant, and Sid Vicious. AJ Styles and Stephanie McMahon came out to their own music to round out the segment.

    Liv Morgan def. Stephanie Vaquer to Win the Women’s World Championship

    Liv Morgan made her entrance with a full stage performance of her new single “Trouble,” lip-synced with backup dancers before heading to the ring still sporting the bruises from her recent collision with Roxanne Perez. Stephanie Vaquer followed with rose petals raining down as she hit the ramp. It was Vaquer’s first WrestleMania match.

    Vaquer took the early lead with a double-leg takedown into a striking exchange, sending Morgan into the barricade before hitting a running double knee strike in the corner. Morgan fired back by countering Vaquer on the turnbuckle with a springboard sunset flip powerbomb for a near-fall, then ran through the Three Amigas in tribute to Eddie Guerrero.

    Vaquer connected with a backbreaker and, in the night’s biggest spot, hit Morgan with Morgan’s own ObLIVion. Morgan kicked out. The Judgment Day numbers game went to work from there: Roxanne Perez distracted the referee while Raquel Rodriguez draped Vaquer across the ropes, letting Morgan connect with an ObLIVion. Vaquer kicked out again, took Perez and Rodriguez out on the floor with a springboard crossbody, and looked primed to retain.

    Morgan caught her on the way back in with the steel steps, then connected with a Codebreaker followed by ObLIVion for the pin at 6:50. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio ran down with the championship and hoisted Morgan up as Perez and Rodriguez joined them in the ring to celebrate.

    Morgan is now a three-time Women’s World Champion, completing the Rumble-to-Mania run she mapped out when she returned at Survivor Series last November. Vaquer’s reign ended at 211 days.

    Main Event: Cody Rhodes def. Randy Orton to Retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

    Pat McAfee walked out first, flipping off the crowd and cursing at fans on his way down. Orton followed to the usual “Voices” singalong from an Allegiant Stadium crowd that hasn’t fully turned on him. Rhodes’ entrance rolled a montage of every gimmick he’s worn in WWE, including Dashing Cody Rhodes and Stardust, before the American Nightmare rose from under the ramp decked out in all gold and an American Nightmare mask.

    The match couldn’t start clean. As Alicia Taylor handled introductions, McAfee grabbed the mic to introduce Orton himself, then he and Orton jumped Rhodes before the bell. Cody fought both men off, and as McAfee scrambled, Jelly Roll appeared at ringside and drove McAfee through the announce table with an elbow drop. A stretcher wheeled McAfee away from ringside, removing Orton’s corner guy before the bell even rang — or so it seemed.

    Once the bell rang, Orton and Rhodes locked up in a classic collar-and-elbow. Orton won the opening exchange with shoulder tackles to establish his power advantage. Rhodes answered with speed and counters, capping the flurry with a scoop powerslam. He picked Orton’s back apart with a sidewalk slam and a Disaster Kick, and at one point wiped Orton’s blood across his own chest — a glimpse of a darker Cody than the American Nightmare fans are used to. Throughout the match, Rhodes leaned on underhanded tactics that felt new for WWE’s top babyface: an eye poke, a low blow, a willingness to target Orton’s open wound with punches and kicks after Orton was busted open on the ring post.

    Orton hung in and answered with vintage offense: a superplex, clotheslines, a scoop powerslam, and his own draping DDT. Every RKO tease got countered. Rhodes hit a backslide, then shocked Orton by hitting him with his own RKO. Orton kicked out at two. Cody mocked the RKO setup; Orton caught him with a CrossRhodes for a near-fall. Rhodes lined up the triple CrossRhodes, and Orton snapped back into an RKO out of nowhere — another close two. Orton even hit referee Charles Robinson with an RKO at one point during the scramble.

    And then McAfee was back. After being stretchered out, he returned as a replacement referee with the match continuing to spiral. That set up the finish everyone will be talking about for weeks. After a Rhodes kickout, McAfee ordered Orton to finish Cody off. Orton stood up, turned, stalked McAfee instead, and hit the mystery-caller with an RKO. With Orton distracted and McAfee down, Rhodes hit CrossRhodes for the pin at 22:40. Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship. Per the match stipulation, Pat McAfee is now banned from the wrestling business forever.

    But this wasn’t a celebration. As the bell rang, Orton got back to his feet, stole the title belt from Rhodes, and cracked Cody in the skull with it. He followed up with the Punt Kick to put Cody down for real and held the Undisputed WWE Championship over his head as the show went off the air. Orton didn’t win the title. He used his own RKO to clear out the version of himself that was embarrassing him, and then sent a message to Cody about what’s next.

    Cody walks out of Night 1 still Undisputed Champion. Orton walks out still chasing his 15th world title, fully turned, and fully alone. This rivalry isn’t over.

    What’s Next

    WrestleMania 42 Night 2 streams live Sunday, April 19 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT from Allegiant Stadium, headlined by CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns. Also on the card: Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi, Jade Cargill defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley, Sami Zayn defending the United States Championship, and a six-way Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match. Stay tuned to SEScoops for Night 1 fallout and Night 2 live coverage.

    How to Watch

    • Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
    • Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas (attendance: 50,816)
    • United States: ESPN (first hour also on ESPN2)
    • International: Netflix
  • WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Preview: Full Match Card, Start Time, How to Watch

    WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Preview: Full Match Card, Start Time, How to Watch

    WrestleMania 42 Night 1 kicks off Saturday, April 18, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with eight matches on the card, headlined by Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton. The event streams live at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on ESPN in the United States and Netflix internationally.

    Order WrestleMania 42 on ESPN

    Key Points

    • Main Event: Cody Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, with Pat McAfee banned from wrestling forever if Orton fails to win.
    • Dream Match: Seth Rollins meets GUNTHER in a non-title showdown that could steal the show.
    • Surprise Return: Paige is expected to compete in the Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way, substituting for an injured Nikki Bella.
    • How to Watch: Live on ESPN (US) and Netflix (international), Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT from Allegiant Stadium.

    WrestleMania 42 Night 1 at a Glance

    Night 1 features four championship matches, one unsanctioned brawl, and a six-man celebrity tag that will air during the first hour of the broadcast. John Cena returns to WWE as the official host of the weekend, making his first appearance since retiring from in-ring competition in December 2025.

    Full Match Card

    MatchStipulation
    Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAfee)Undisputed WWE Championship
    Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv MorganWomen’s World Championship
    AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky LynchWomen’s Intercontinental Championship
    Irresistible Forces (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Paige & Brie BellaWomen’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way
    Seth Rollins vs. GUNTHERSingles Match
    Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob FatuUnsanctioned Match
    Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA KnightSix-Man Tag Team Match
    WrestleMania 42 Poster

    Match Previews

    Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton

    This match carries nearly two decades of history. Rhodes and Orton were stablemates in Legacy alongside Ted DiBiase Jr. starting in 2008, with Rhodes crediting Orton as a formative influence on his early career. Now they collide with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line.

    Orton earned his title shot by winning an Elimination Chamber match that included Rhodes, with the help of an interfering Drew McIntyre. Rhodes would go on to defeat McIntyre for the title on SmackDown before this WrestleMania rematch was set. The feud took a sharp turn when Orton revealed Pat McAfee as his mystery advisor, a former NFL punter and ESPN personality who aligned with Orton under the banner of bringing back the “Attitude Era.” McAfee and Orton subsequently attacked Rhodes on SmackDown and stole the championship belt, before Rhodes stormed McAfee’s television set and reclaimed it earlier this week.

    The stakes are elevated by an additional stipulation: if Orton fails to win tonight, McAfee will be permanently banned from the wrestling business. Rhodes told ESPN’s First Take he is focused on Orton above all else, calling McAfee “the garnish” and Orton “the steak,” while also confirming he has a plan of his own to deal with any outside interference. For more on this feud, see our coverage of John Cena’s prediction for this match.

    Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan

    Stephanie Vaquer puts the Women’s World Championship on the line against Liv Morgan, who earned this title shot by winning the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble. Vaquer enters as champion looking to hold off one of the most driven challengers on the roster.

    Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch

    AJ Lee defends the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch in what is expected to be one of the most technically polished matches of the night. Lynch is a former holder of the title, adding a layer of personal stakes to the showdown. For more on Lynch heading into WrestleMania, see her recent comments on fan criticism.

    Seth Rollins vs. GUNTHER

    This match was put together on short notice after injuries derailed original plans on both sides. GUNTHER’s scheduled WrestleMania opponent Rey Mysterio suffered a rib injury, while Rollins lost his planned opponent Bron Breakker to hernia surgery. The match became official on the March 30 episode of Raw at Madison Square Garden, when GUNTHER made a surprise return and put Rollins to sleep with a Sleeper Hold while The Visionary was in the process of attacking Paul Heyman.

    GUNTHER arrives on a historic run that includes retiring Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles. Rollins, a six-time world champion, has been in a prolonged feud with Paul Heyman and the Vision faction since returning at Elimination Chamber. Despite the abbreviated build, this is one of the most anticipated in-ring performances on the card. For background on how this matchup came together, see our story on WWE’s scrapped WrestleMania 42 plans.

    Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way: Irresistible Forces (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Paige & Brie Bella

    Champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend defend the Women’s Tag Team titles against three challengers in a fatal four-way. Per PWInsider, Paige has signed with WWE and will compete in this match as a surprise return, stepping in for Nikki Bella who was not cleared from an ankle injury suffered on SmackDown. For the full details on that development, see our story on Paige’s return.

    Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu (Unsanctioned Match)

    This one is scheduled to air in the opening hour of Night 1 and carries no rules, no officials with authority to stop it, and no disqualifications. The unsanctioned stipulation reflects the depth of hostility between McIntyre and Fatu heading into Las Vegas.

    Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed vs. The Usos & LA Knight

    Also airing in the first hour, this six-man tag brings a celebrity crossover element to Night 1. YouTube and streaming personality IShowSpeed teams with Logan Paul and Austin Theory against the combination of Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and LA Knight.

    How to Watch WrestleMania 42 Night 1

    • Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
    • Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • United States: ESPN (first hour also on ESPN2)
    • International: Netflix

    Don’t Miss SEScoops Coverage

    Stay tuned to SEScoops.com for live results, match recaps, and post-event fallout from WrestleMania 42 Night 1.

  • Pat McAfee Trolls Fans At WWE World, Mentions AEW

    Pat McAfee Trolls Fans At WWE World, Mentions AEW

    Pat McAfee built up a countdown clock at WWE World that had the crowd expecting a major surprise, and when the clock hit zero, it was just a live feed of The Pat McAfee Show.

    The crowd reacted poorly, and McAfee leaned into it completely.

    “Surprise nerds! The surprise that you thought was maybe going to be your favorite wrestler of all time, maybe somebody from AEW was going to sign with WWE at WrestleMania, and you marks were gonna get zipper burn all over yourself. Instead, Pat McAfee is smarter than all of you dumb marks yet again!”

    He also took a shot at the crowd’s hygiene before turning his attention back to WrestleMania weekend.

    “What me and Randy are about to do to your WrestleMania weekend is something you can’t prepare for, you can’t control, you’re going to be crying your ass off as you leave WrestleMania knowing that what was, what you all let happen, is over. Randy Orton is going to run this industry back to what it’s supposed to be out of your dumbass hands.”

    McAfee confirmed he was on his way to Las Vegas as the segment aired. He will be in Orton’s corner Saturday night when The Viper challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in the Night One main event of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • Triple H Defends Pat McAfee WrestleMania 42 Role on ESPN

    Triple H Defends Pat McAfee WrestleMania 42 Role on ESPN

    Triple H is pushing back on the growing fan backlash over Pat McAfee’s insertion into the WrestleMania 42 main event picture, framing the controversy as a win for WWE rather than a problem.

    WWE’s Chief Content Officer appeared on ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Peter Rosenberg on Wednesday to promote the April 18-19 event at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The full interview is available below.

    Triple H Says “Talk Is Good” Amid McAfee Controversy

    Triple H on ESPN First Take

    Asked about the heat surrounding McAfee’s presence in the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton storyline, Triple H dismissed the idea that the discourse is a negative for WWE. Instead, he leaned into it.

    “It’s always pressure, but the thing is talk is good, right? People are talking and that is a good thing,” Triple H said. “Pat, love him or hate him, Pat makes people talk, right? And I think that’s what’s important here is people are talking. This is going to be an amazing show. This will be incredible and it will deliver on all levels.”

    The comments come as fan frustration over the angle has reached a fever pitch. Rhodes himself called the McAfee reveal “the most ill-received thing in the history of wrestling” on the SI Media podcast, and more recently labeled McAfee “a full-blooded rat” during an ESPN Get Up appearance.

    Reports Say McAfee Push Came From Above Triple H

    Pat McAfee on WWE Smackdown
    WWE

    Triple H’s public defense of the angle is notable given the reporting around how McAfee ended up in the storyline. Per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the push to insert McAfee came from TKO Executive Chairman Ari Emanuel, not WWE creative.

    Fightful Select separately reported the move was designed as “corporate synergy” tied to WWE’s new ESPN partnership, with McAfee serving as a recognizable face for the first-ever WrestleMania broadcast on ESPN platforms.

    Oba Femi Gets a Triple H Endorsement

    Beyond the McAfee discussion, Triple H used the ESPN platform to put a spotlight on Oba Femi, calling the former NXT Champion a generational talent. He specifically praised Femi’s ability to trade verbal blows with Paul Heyman in recent weeks.

    Femi faces Brock Lesnar in a match that will open Night 2 of WrestleMania 42, with the first hour airing free on ESPN.

    Triple H also reflected on how WrestleMania has evolved from his 1996 debut in an arena setting into a week-long stadium spectacle, and credited the event’s multi-generational appeal as a key driver of WWE’s current run.

    WrestleMania 42 emanates from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, with the full show streaming on ESPN Unlimited in the US and Netflix internationally.

  • Wade Barrett: Joe Tessitore, I Were “Caught Cold” by Pat McAfee Return

    Wade Barrett: Joe Tessitore, I Were “Caught Cold” by Pat McAfee Return

    Wade Barrett says the SmackDown commentary team had no idea Pat McAfee was coming out to align with Randy Orton on the April 3 episode, with blank pages on their rundown sheet where the segment should have been.

    Speaking in a new interview with Sporf, the former WWE Superstar confirmed that his broadcast partner Joe Tessitore’s on-air reaction was genuine, not performance. He said both announcers were caught as cold as the live audience when McAfee walked out in St. Louis.

    Barrett and Tessitore Had Blank Pages on the Rundown

    Wade Barrett and Pat McAfee

    Barrett explained that commentators are not always clued in to every segment, and the McAfee reveal was one of the moments kept completely off their sheet heading into the show.

    “Well, I was very surprised when Pat McAfee came out with the Randy Orton stuff on SmackDown. Sometimes there are blank pages on the sheet that I get as a commentator. That was blank. I had no idea Pat McAfee was coming out, I didn’t know what he was gonna say, so it was a shock to me, and it was a shock to Joe Tess on commentary, too. We were caught just as cold as the entire audience, and I was scratching my head.”

    The former Intercontinental Champion said parts of McAfee’s promo confused him in the moment, pointing to references that did not fit the current product.

    “I didn’t really understand why Pat was saying certain things. He was taking shots at people who didn’t deserve to have a shot taken at them. He was also coming up with some references to 40-minute Ironman matches, and I don’t know what show he was watching there. So, yeah, I was caught cold by it.”

    Barrett added that he enjoyed Cody Rhodes’ immediate response later in the night and singled out CM Punk’s Raw promo the following Monday as one of the funniest retorts he has seen in a long time.

    “I Don’t Know Where the Reality Ends and the Story Begins”

    Barrett went on to praise the angle itself, suggesting that the blurred line between storyline and real-life friction has created exactly the kind of buzz WWE wants before WrestleMania.

    “I think the brilliance of this whole situation, it’s gone from an initial head scratcher to now the lines have been completely blurred, and I don’t know what is storyline, what is real life. Are they angry? I think when you get to that point, it just creates buzz, and I think the three of those guys you just mentioned have created some serious buzz going into WrestleMania.”

    He acknowledged the fan division around the segment, including complaints about Punk going off-script, but framed the resulting noise as a net positive for the show.

    “I’ve been watching this game a long time, I’ve been behind the curtain for over 20 years at this point. I don’t know where the reality ends and the story begins at this point, so they’ve got me too. So I think it’s exactly what you need this time of year, heading into WrestleMania. You want buzz, you want people talking, you want eyeballs on it. Whether this is by design or by accident, whatever it is, it’s worked.”

    McAfee’s Reveal Sets Up WrestleMania 42 Night 1

    McAfee was unveiled as Randy Orton’s mystery caller on the April 3 edition of SmackDown, attacking Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and declaring that Orton would save the business. He is set to be in Orton’s corner when The Viper challenges Rhodes for the title on Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18.

    The angle has drawn heavy fan backlash, with Rhodes calling it the most ill-received thing in wrestling history and labeling McAfee a “full-blooded rat” on ESPN’s Get Up.

  • Cody Rhodes Doubts Pat McAfee as ‘Next Sylvester Stallone’

    Cody Rhodes Doubts Pat McAfee as ‘Next Sylvester Stallone’

    The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes expressed skepticism about Pat McAfee’s involvement in his feud with Randy Orton.

    Appearing on the Your Mom’s House podcast, Rhodes was asked about McAfee. His response referenced Mariah Carey’s infamous dismissal of Jennifer Lopez.

    “Remember when someone asked Mariah Carey about JLo? That’s where I stand on the Pat McAfee thing. I don’t know him. People think WWE reaches out to some of the outside folks and asks them to come to the party and they don’t realize that it’s usually them pitching to come to the party.”

    Rhodes Questions McAfee’s Hollywood Ambitions

    ‘The American Nightmare’ continued his critique, suggesting the former NFL punter needs people around him willing to say no. Rhodes specifically questioned recent comparisons of McAfee to Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone.

    “I think it’s flattering that you want to be in my match. Cool. I don’t know him. I respect the hustle from building the show up and the incredible success with College GameDay. I just wish someone in his orbit and circle would say no every now and again. You need those people around you to go, ‘I don’t know.’ The next Sylvester Stallone, Pat? I don’t know.”

    Pat McAfee is eyeing to broaden his Hollywood presence with a guest role on ‘Tulsa King,’ as Ari Emanuel reportedly aims to transform him into the “next Sylvester Stallone.”

    On Wednesday, Rhodes destroyed McAfee’s studio and retrieved the WWE Championship that was stolen from him on SmackDown.

    Cody Rhodes is set to defend his championship against Randy Orton in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Saturday.

  • Cody Rhodes Destroys Pat McAfee’s Set and Reclaims WWE Championship

    Cody Rhodes Destroys Pat McAfee’s Set and Reclaims WWE Championship

    The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has destroyed Pat McAfee’s set.

    During Wednesday’s episode of the Pat McAfee Show, the NFL legend revealed footage of ‘The American Nightmare’ entering his Thunderdome studio and reclaiming the WWE title.

    The security video showed Rhodes walking up to McAfee’s set, and destroying pieces of the set with a baseball bat.

    During the latest edition of SmackDown, Cody Rhodes was brutally attacked by his WrestleMania 42 opponent Randy Orton and McAfee. Orton and McAfee left the building with the belt.

    Cody Rhodes has been taking shots at McAfee. ‘The American Nightmare’ has expressed frustration with McAfee’s sudden insertion into the storyline with Randy Orton. He also called the former NFL punter a ‘rat.’

    McAfee is set to be in Orton’s corner when Rhodes defends his Undisputed WWE Championship against ‘The Viper’ at WrestleMania 42 Night 1 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • Cody Rhodes: Pat McAfee Story Is The Most Ill-Received Thing In History of Wrestling

    Cody Rhodes: Pat McAfee Story Is The Most Ill-Received Thing In History of Wrestling

    Cody Rhodes is not mincing his words.

    The initial reveal of Pat McAfee as Randy Orton’s mystery caller was one of the worst-received segments in WWE history. Things have only gone from bad to worse from there. The company has failed in their attempt to salvage the story and release the anger of fans with worked shoot promos targeting TKO officials.

    The American Nightmare gave his unfiltered thoughts on how the whole thing is going during his appearance on the SI Media podcast, only days before WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes claimed that it’s the worst-received thing in the history of wrestling, comparing it to angles like the Shockmaster’s failed debut and the reveal of Gobbledy Gooker:

    “This is the most ill-received thing in the history of wrestling. Gobbledy Gooker was one, Shockmaster was up there, but that was kind of funny. This is, the entire fandom, your fans, my fans, independent wrestling fans, casual fans, cinema fans, every single fan who has ever said ‘wrestling,’ has received this with, ‘Huh? What? Okay.’ Worst received thing in the history of wrestling.”

    He’s Just Trying to Help: Cody Rhodes

    Though later, Cody Rhodes seemed to express sympathy with the former NFL star. The WWE Champion said that he has to be an optimist and noted how Pat McAfee is a huge star who is only trying to help:

    “He’s just trying to help our party. I respect him and that. On the other side of it, I’m in tune with the online audience, but it’s everybody in the audience. We all see it. I look at that and ask myself, kind of like when I was doing Stardust or given a bone on my way up, ‘How can we make this something?’”

    The former AEW star also talked about Randy Orton getting cheered despite his heel turn before the Pat McAfee reveal. Rhodes noted that fans respect The Viper because he has stuck around wrestling.

  • Cody Rhodes Rips Pat McAfee Ahead of WrestleMania 42: ‘He’s A Full Blooded Rat’

    Cody Rhodes Rips Pat McAfee Ahead of WrestleMania 42: ‘He’s A Full Blooded Rat’

    The Undisputed Cody Rhodes did not hold back when asked about Pat McAfee.

    ‘The American Nightmare’ Champion participated in a word association segment on ESPN’s Get Up and delivered a scathing attack on the former SmackDown commentator.

    When McAfee’s name came up, Rhodes immediately responded with harsh words.

    “A rat. A full-blown, full-blooded rat who is surrounded by people that don’t tell him no enough, and now he’s fully involved in what we’re doing, and Pat McAfee is on the marquee next to Randy Orton. No one expected that. So at least we can expect the unexpected with ESPN’s own Pat McAfee. Also, I don’t have the title because he took it to the Thunderdome. So I’m titleless here. I apologize.”

    This is not the first time Cody Rhodes has blasted Pat McAfee. ‘The American Nightmare’ previously expressed frustration with McAfee’s sudden insertion into the storyline with Randy Orton, which is built on nearly two decades of history.

    McAfee is set to be in Orton’s corner when the latter challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42 Night 1 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • WWE Policy For Talent Unhappy With Pat McAfee Situation (Report)

    WWE Policy For Talent Unhappy With Pat McAfee Situation (Report)

    WWE is allowing talents to vent their frustration.

    The clunky build to WrestleMania 42 has led to a lot of frustration within the wrestling world. One feud that has been criticised much more than others is the story between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, because of its focus on celebrity involvement instead of the long history between the two WWE veterans.

    Fightful Select recently provided an update on how the company is handling the disappointment over this story internally. According to them, the officials seem to be allowing talent to speak up their mind about the whole thing:

    “Based on what we’ve heard, there are no restrictions on talent expressing displeasure in media about the Pat McAfee angle or comments.”

    Damian Priest has already taken advantage of this freedom, claiming that a lot of people in the locker room are not happy with McAfee’s addition to the WrestleMania story.

    Reports suggest that the former NFL star is going to continue his involvement in the story after the Show of Shows and potentially be part of a key match at the Backlash PPV next month. You can check out more about it here.

  • Pat McAfee Fires Back at Fans Who Wanted The Rock or Vince McMahon As Mystery Caller

    Pat McAfee Fires Back at Fans Who Wanted The Rock or Vince McMahon As Mystery Caller

    Pat McAfee is not apologetic about being the one behind the phone calls to Randy Orton, and he had a pointed response for fans who were hoping for someone else.

    McAfee revealed himself as Orton’s mystery advisor on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, attacking Cody Rhodes and aligning himself with The Viper weeks before their WrestleMania 42 showdown against the WWE Champion. On his ESPN show, McAfee addressed the disappointment from fans who had been speculating about bigger names on the other end of those calls.

    “‘How come it was McAfee on the phone?’ Because I f***ing called him and told him, that’s why. ‘I wanted it to be The Rock.’ You think The Rock wants to do anything for you? ‘I wanted it to be Vince McMahon.’ Vince? Sorry. It was me. It was me,” McAfee said.

    The Rock has not appeared on WWE television since Elimination Chamber 2025, when he aligned with John Cena to take out Rhodes. Vince McMahon continues to face a civil lawsuit from former employee Janel Grant, who has accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking, making any return to the public eye complicated.

    McAfee is set to corner Orton at WrestleMania 42 when The Viper challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night One at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18. A previous report from Dave Meltzer stated that WWE is currently planning to have McAfee and Orton team together against Rhodes and Jelly Roll at Backlash in May. 

  • Cody Rhodes Takes Aim At Pat McAfee For WrestleMania 42 Involvement

    Cody Rhodes Takes Aim At Pat McAfee For WrestleMania 42 Involvement

    Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes recently criticized Pat McAfee’s involvement in his WrestleMania 42 storyline with Randy Orton. ‘The American Nightmare’ expressed frustration with the broadcaster’s sudden insertion into a storyline built on nearly two decades of history.

    Speaking on Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, Rhodes invoked the famous Mariah Carey meme when asked about McAfee.

    “I’m just going to do the Mariah Carey answer moving forward on Pat McAfee. I don’t know him.”

    Cody Rhodes Questions McAfee’s Placement in Main Event Story

    Cody Rhodes emphasized the rich history between himself and Orton that made the NFL legend’s addition feel out of place.

    “Randy Orton, who I’m wrestling at WrestleMania, we have like almost two decades of history between each other. He was my mentor.”

    He continued:

    “We were on screen together as part of his group, Legacy. He had my dad’s last match, my first match in the company is Randy. There was a lot of rich story material, and then we inserted Pat McAfee.”

    The WWE champion suggested McAfee’s team needs someone willing to push back on his ideas.

    “What I would say is right now, what I’ve seen is everyone around Pat McAfee, his orbit, probably someone needs to say no every now and then. You need that one guy in the room to be like, ‘I don’t know, man. Jumping into the WrestleMania main event?’”

    Rhodes also questioned McAfee’s references to the Attitude Era during the segment.

    “I heard him talk about the Attitude Era and I’m thinking oh man, I don’t think he knows. [It was] almost 30 years ago,” Rhodes noted. “If you’re part of the last four years, you kind of feel like why are we talking about this? We’re playing in this game. Why are we talking about this?”

    McAfee’s involvement has drawn criticism from fans who cite his lack of connection to either Rhodes or Orton. His SmackDown appearance was viewed by many as more focused on promoting WrestleMania ticket sales than advancing the world title storyline.

    Rhodes faces Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.

  • WWE Veteran Claims Pat McAfee Is Doing An ‘Incredible Job’

    WWE Veteran Claims Pat McAfee Is Doing An ‘Incredible Job’

    JBL is loving the work of Pat McAfee.

    The addition of the former NFL star in the WrestleMania feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton has not been well-received by the fans. People have criticised the focus of the rivalry being the involvement of celebrities instead of the long history between the two WWE veterans. The involvement of McAfee doesn’t appear to have helped the problem of ticket sales either, as the company is still offering huge discounts for the Show of Shows.

    Though the WWE Hall of Famer gave a very different opinion on the whole thing. While speaking about the angle on the latest Something to Wrestle With podcast, JBL explained that the hate Pat McAfee has been getting is actually the effect desired by the company:

    “He is a bad guy. And the idea that fans online are hating that Pat McAfee is involved and don’t want him near the main event—that’s the desired result as a heel. Don’t you think? You think it’s just—it blows me away when a guy gets heat like this and people go, ‘Oh, no, no, no—it’s go-away heat.’ No, it’s not.”

    That’s When You’re Winning: JBL

    JBL claimed that if Pat McAfee had ‘go away’ heat as people claim, then nobody would even be talking about it. According to the former WWE champion, the fact that people can’t stop discussing the twists to this story means that the former Raw commentator is doing an incredible job:

    “When you come out there and you’re able to strip away the veneer of that person playing a heel to that person just being an asshole and you don’t like them—that’s when you’re winning. The key to being a heel is when they take away the fact that you’re playing a character and they don’t just say, ‘It has nothing to do with Killer Tim Brooks as a wrestler—I don’t like that man. I hate him. I think Pat’s doing an incredible job.’”

    Pat McAfee is expected to continue to be involved in the story between Orton and Rhodes after the Show of Shows. You can check out a report on where this feud is headed after WrestleMania here.

  • Ex-WWE Commentator Calls Out WrestleMania Celebrities and Ticket Sales

    Ex-WWE Commentator Calls Out WrestleMania Celebrities and Ticket Sales

    Former WWE commentator Jonathan Coachman recently slammed WWE’s decision to involve celebrities in the WrestleMania 42 main event scene following last night’s SmackDown.

    The Coach raised questions with both Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll being featured prominently in the feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

    On SmackDown, Jelly Roll also confronted McAfee over his recent turn on Rhodes and alignment with Orton.

    Coachman Questions Celebrity Involvement

    Taking to X after SmackDown, Coachman shared what he called an “Emergency SmackDown Take” and made his views clear.

    “I never make a video on Friday night, but this is embarrassing, the business that I’ve been in for 25 years.”

    “Individually, I love Cody, Randy, Legends, Hall of Famers, Jelly Roll, one of my favorite performers, Pat McAfee, a unicorn. Respect. It’s not their fault. But are you serious?”

    “Celebrities, no matter how much they train, should not be used in main event storyline as a prop… are really going to sell any more tickets. With eight days to go from people outside of Las Vegas, what are we doing?”

    Ticket Discount Announcement Draws Criticism

    McAfee announced a 25% discount on WrestleMania 42 tickets, seemingly in response to tickets still being available. Coachman questioned WWE’s decision to promote this discount so close to the event.

    “Eight days before WrestleMania, we’re gonna do the equivalent of walking out there and having Pat McAfee say, I’m doing you a solid… here’s a coupon, everybody,” Coachman said.

    “In what universe does a family of four say, oh, I get 25% off tickets tonight, so let me go book 1,000 worth of plane tickets to go to Vegas and spend another three to 4,000 after I get there on eight days notice because you offered me a discount.”

    McAfee will be in Orton’s corner when he challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42 next weekend. Pat has vowed that he will leave pro wrestling programming for good should Orton fail to win the title from Rhodes in Las Vegas.

  • Pat McAfee’s Obscene Gesture Forces WWE To Blackout Live Feed During SmackDown

    Pat McAfee’s Obscene Gesture Forces WWE To Blackout Live Feed During SmackDown

    Pat McAfee recently caused a production blackout during this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown after repeatedly making inappropriate gestures toward the crowd. The former NFL punter’s actions forced the production team to momentarily cut the live feed to maintain broadcast standards.

    McAfee appeared on the show with what was described as good news for fans still looking to attend WrestleMania 42 on Saturday. However, as he made his entrance, he began aggressively gesturing toward those in attendance, repeatedly flipping off the crowd.

    The gestures crossed WWE’s broadcast standards, forcing production to black out the live feed. Camera operators quickly adjusted their shots to avoid capturing the inappropriate gestures and keep the segment within the company’s PG guidelines.

    Last night’s edition of SmackDown featured Pat McAfee, who cut another controversial promo with Cody Rhodes. They exchanged insults before Randy Orton attacked Jelly Roll backstage. ‘The American Nightmare’ tried to help Jelly Roll but ended up getting attacked by both Randy Orton and McAfee.

  • Pat McAfee Responds To CM Punk’s MAGA Jab With Saudi Arabia Taunt

    Pat McAfee Responds To CM Punk’s MAGA Jab With Saudi Arabia Taunt

    Pat McAfee has fired back at CM Punk.

    WWE had put the Straight Edge Star forward on this past Monday’s Raw in an effort to salvage the McAfee storyline after it was universally panned. Doing what he does best, Punk had cut an intense promo calling out the TKO brass’ MAGA affiliation through McAfee and asking the WWE owners to lower the ticket prices.

    The former NFL star responded to these jabs with a promo of his own during the latest episode of SmackDown. Pat McAfee claimed that it’s hard for him to take a spineless bum like CM Punk seriously because he has a brain. He mentioned how Punk was talking about fans while wearing multiple layers of officially licensed merchandise and took a jab at the former AEW star agreeing to work Saudi events:

    “He’s got 283 things for sale to all of you. I wonder to myself, when that TKO merch check comes through, which account does it go to? Does it go to the needy wrestling families who can’t afford WrestleMania tickets? Or, just simple question and I have a sneaky suspicion that money from the TKO merch account goes right into the bank account titled, ‘I’m sorry, Saudi Arabia.’ He’s a fraud like a politician – all talk, no action.”

    Pat McAfee later claimed that Punk had the opportunity to change things, but then got into a room and rolled over like the little bitch he is. The former Raw commentator also revealed his promised ‘massive announcement’, which turned out to be another massive dud.

    Cody Rhodes came out next to confront McAfee. After some more heated words, including a line about Cody sucking Triple H’s ass, the segment ended in a brawl with Randy Orton and Jelly Roll also getting involved. Randy and Pat got the upper hand in this fight and they finally left with the WWE title.

  • Pat McAfee’s ‘Massive Announcement’ Revealed

    Pat McAfee’s ‘Massive Announcement’ Revealed

    Pat McAfee’s ‘massive announcement’ is a massive disappointment.

    The former NFL star had promised another surprise announcement for his appearance on this week’s episode of SmackDown from SAP Center in San Jose, California. Pat’s scheduled appearance came after Royce Keys finally made his singles TV debut on the show, squashing Humberto Carrillo.

    Pat McAfee first ran into Nick Aldis backstage in a segment. He asked the SmackDown GM if he had informed all roster members that no one was allowed to put their hands on McAfee and Aldis confirmed the same.

    Pat McAfee’s Massive Announcement

    The retired footballer then got in the ring for a promo. He first responded to CM Punk for his fiery ‘MAGAfee’ promo on this week’s Raw. Pat then came to his massive announcement, revealing that tickets for WrestleMania Saturday will be available at 25% discount till Monday.

    He explained that only the Saturday tickets are on discount because Randy Orton is in main event. Pat McAfee claimed that fans shouldn’t spend the money on Sunday’s event since the lineup is ‘ass.’

    Cody Rhodes later came out for a war of words with his newest rival. The segment finally ended with Randy Orton using Jelly Roll as a bait to get the upper hand over the American Nightmare in a brawl and leaving with his WWE title belt.