Celebrity Involvement Is Not Ending Anytime Soon Despite WrestleMania 42 Backlash

Despite the significant criticism surrounding Pat McAfee’s involvement in the WrestleMania 42 main event picture — and McAfee’s subsequent decision to opt out of post-WrestleMania plans — WWE sources have made clear to Fightful Select that the company’s appetite for celebrity involvement is not diminishing. The outlet reports that WWE is “extremely happy” with all the celebrity performances at WrestleMania 42 and that celebrity involvement will not be stopping anytime soon.

While the level of celebrity activity is expected to decrease in the weeks immediately following WrestleMania — as it typically does — plans are in place for additional celebrities to appear on WWE programming in the future, including this summer. The report also notes that Tom Brady was contacted regarding possible involvement with the company, though it remains unclear why that conversation did not lead anywhere given Brady’s previous dismissive “cute” comment about professional wrestling.

Jelly Roll, IShowSpeed, Lil Yachty, and Pat McAfee All Had WrestleMania 42 Roles for WWE

The celebrities involved at WrestleMania 42 were Jelly Roll, IShowSpeed, Lil Yachty, and Pat McAfee. Yachty also appeared on the post-WrestleMania SmackDown, where he was attacked by Sami Zayn while Zayn was dressed as the Gingerbread Man. The internal satisfaction with the celebrity performances — despite the widespread external criticism of McAfee’s involvement specifically — suggests WWE views the overall celebrity strategy as a success regardless of the individual controversy surrounding one participant.