{"id":516180,"date":"2026-04-06T17:14:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/516180\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T17:14:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:14:19","slug":"report-pat-mcafee-initially-turned-down-offer-to-be-aligned-with-randy-orton-for-wwe-wrestlemania-42","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/516180\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Pat McAfee initially turned down offer to be aligned with Randy Orton for WWE WrestleMania 42"},"content":{"rendered":"

As seen during the April 3rd 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown, Pat McAfee was revealed as Randy Orton\u2019s mystery phone caller<\/a> after he attacked WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com noted the following about the segment\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cPat McAfee was the first choice and it was from Ari Emanuel. That\u2019s where it came from. They wanted celebrity involvement.<\/p>\n

Originally from what I was told, Pat McAfee was the choice and he turned it down. Then they were scrambling to get somebody else in the spot, and then obviously, they were able to make a deal with him. So he did it and he was there.\u201d (quote courtesy of WrestlePurists.com)<\/p>\n

The only \u201cshock\u201d is that @RandyOrton<\/a>, the greatest Sports Entertainer of all time, isn\u2019t running @WWE<\/a><\/p>\n

That all changes at Mania\u2026 When he becomes 15 TIME WORLD CHAMPION AND SAVES THE BUSINESS for future generations while doing so<\/p>\n

And if he doesn\u2019t\u2026 I\u2019ll NEVER BE SEEN OR HEARD\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/cno7rJZYl4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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