Pat McAfee’s surprise return as Randy Orton’s advisor has generated significant discontent backstage in WWE, according to a report from PWInsider Elite’s Mike Johnson. Several talents have expressed frustration with McAfee’s insertion into the WrestleMania 42 main event storyline — a move widely reported to have been driven by Ari Emanuel, who serves as both McAfee’s agent and Executive Chairman of TKO Group.
The frustration was compounded by McAfee’s unscripted promo on SmackDown, with some backstage believing the Rhodes versus Orton story was already well-told without his involvement. According to a report from WrestlingNews.co, while Cody Rhodes did not actively voice displeasure about the McAfee pivot to anyone, there was genuine sympathy for him among the roster. “There was still a feeling of sympathy for him having to now ‘carry that additional weight,’ as one talent said, leading into WrestleMania.”
CM Punk Called Out McAfee on Raw While Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes Confirmed for WrestleMania 42 Night One
The situation was addressed publicly on Monday’s Raw when CM Punk used his promo segment to take aim at McAfee despite the two being on different brands. Punk also targeted Ari Emanuel without naming him directly, calling him “the agent that shoehorned Pat into the business to lower ticket prices.” Meanwhile, WWE has officially confirmed that Randy Orton’s Undisputed Championship match against Cody Rhodes will take place on Night One of WrestleMania 42 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The confirmation places one of the show’s most talked-about matches on the Saturday night card, with the internal and fan reaction to McAfee’s role still very much part of the conversation heading into the Show of Shows.
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