Cody Rhodes Says Pat McAfee’s Involvement Is the “Most Ill-Received Thing in the History of Wrestling”

Cody Rhodes has delivered his most candid and unfiltered assessment yet of how Pat McAfee’s insertion into his WrestleMania 42 program with Randy Orton has been received — and he did not reach for diplomatic language. Speaking with Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast, Rhodes acknowledged the scale of the backlash in terms that placed it among the most notorious moments in wrestling history.

“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,” Rhodes said.

Despite that acknowledgment, Rhodes made clear he is not dwelling in despair over the situation. He offered a genuine and measured defense of McAfee as a person and a professional while being equally honest that the creative fit has not landed. “On the bright side, Pat McAfee is a huge star and one, if not the, face of ESPN. His College GameDay stuff is legendary. He’s a great athlete and he loves wrestling. He’s just trying to help our party. I respect him and that.” He also drew a parallel to past adversity in his own career. “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?'”

Cody Rhodes Says Randy Orton Being at His Best Is Why He Has Zero Concern About the WrestleMania 42 Match Itself

The reason Rhodes is ultimately unbothered by the surrounding noise comes down to his genuine excitement about the opponent standing across from him on Saturday night. “Why I’m not worried about it at all is because Randy Orton is the guy I’m wrestling. He is arguably the best he’s ever been. Before he turned on me, crowds were reacting to Randy in an insanely positive way because they were feeling the love. Randy is not going yet. He’s the hottest he’s ever been. Wrestler-wise, he might be the best he’s ever been. That, to me — I know bell-to-bell that we’re going to be just fine.” Rhodes defended the championship against Orton with McAfee in the corner in the Night One main event of WrestleMania 42 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, airing on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan.