Published: 10 hours ago by Liam | Last Updated: 10 hours ago by Liam
Liam has been reporting & analyzing wrestling news for over eight years, and is currently the Managing Editor at WrestleTalk.com. Immersed in wrestling for 18 years, he has over 11,000 published articles in addition to leading and overseeing WrestleTalk.com’s coverage.
WWE
Details have emerged regarding the backstage reaction in WWE and “shoot” comments from Cody Rhodes about Pat McAfee’s return.
McAfee made his return to WWE TV after months away last night, aligning with Randy Orton and attacking Cody Rhodes, with the storyline being that McAfee thinks WWE has sucked recently – both creative-wise and business-wise – blaming it on Rhodes being the face of the company, and wanting to install Orton in that role to “save the business.”
McAfee in his promo even brought up the decrease in WrestleMania ticket sales since last year and what he referred to as the worst SmackDown ratings of all time.
Later in the show, Rhodes came back out for a promo, and some interesting details from that have now emerged.
As reported by PWInsider, Rhodes’ promo wasn’t listed on the internal rundown for the show – which may have just been because it was being hidden that he’d be on the show a second time, but might also have meant it was a late addition.
Also, there’s a belief that some of Rhodes’ comments were particularly pointed at TKO management regarding McAfee being inserted into the storyline.
To speculate on what that part of the report may be referring to, Rhodes at one point said “everyone who represents (McAfee) – and I know who I’m talking to – can kiss my ass.”
McAfee is widely known to be represented by Ari Emanuel, who is the CEO of Endeavor and the CEO & Chairman of TKO, which means he has the ultimate power and control over WWE if and when he wants to use it, and there’s a belief as noted by Dave Meltzer that McAfee’s involvement was a direction from Emanuel.
In summary, there appears to at least be some semblance of tension and frustration from some people in WWE towards Endeavor and TKO management for getting involved in the WrestleMania main event build – not for the first time.
Part of the storyline as well is McAfee announcing he’ll never return to pro-wrestling TV if Orton loses at WresleMania.
How Could WWE Fix The Pat McAfee Backlash?
(By Jamie Toolan)
After the universal negativity to Travis Scott’s involvement in the WrestleMania 41 main event between John Cena and Cody Rhodes, it’s quite baffling to imagine WWE’s higher ups didn’t foresee the same happening when Pat McAfee was revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery caller.
While McAfee is much more well respected by the fans than Scott, the storyline he’s been inserted to makes very little sense and quite frankly doesn’t need him, nor any other outside party other than Rhodes and Orton.
While someone like The Rock or Kevin Owens could have at least tied in with previous storylines involving Rhodes and/or Orton, the two former Legacy members have history dating back two whole decades and WWE have barely tapped into any of that thus far.
WWE completely backing out of any McAfee involvement without reason may be too jarring, but perhaps this new, more aggressive version of Cody Rhodes could forcefully take out the former Indianapolis Colts punter in order to earn him some well needed favor with the fans, and give him some actual edge to his character heading into WrestleMania 42.
With McAfee vowing to leave WWE if Orton doesn’t win at WrestleMania, they could always just book Rhodes to win, however, that would mean fans will have to at least accept Pat being in The Viper’s corner in Las Vegas, before Cody and Randy continue their feud alone after April 18 & 19.
To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!