Pat McAfee and Randy Orton Trick Cody Rhodes Into an Assault With Jelly Roll Bait on SmackDown

Pat McAfee doubled down on his integration into the story that was supposed to have Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes build to their match at WrestleMania.

Pat McAfee and Randy Orton Trick Cody Rhodes Into an Assault With Jelly Roll Bait on SmackDown

Randy Orton and Pat McAfee standing tall over Cody Rhodes [via- WWE]

Pat McAfee‘s integration into what should’ve otherwise been a straight-up wrestling feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton has had the core audience of WWE in shambles since last Friday. It just got worse this week on SmackDown. The former NFL punter made his way out to the ring alone with a live microphone in his hand.

After dumping on the locals in San Jose, McAfee called out the “spineless bum” they gleefully cheer for, CM Punk. The ESPN analyst wondered where that TKO merch money goes. Does it go to the needy wrestling families that couldn’t afford tickets to WrestleMania or directly into the bank account entitled, “I’m sorry, Saudi Arabia?” Calling Punk a mere politician, McAfee hailed himself as an agent of change.

Posing as the hero in this situation, McAfee said he called the official sponsor of WrestleMania, the RAM Trucks, and asked if they’d be fine with offering 25% off on Saturday night tickets with Randy Orton wrestling and him being the only reason for the fans to watch the show.

‘The Boomstick’ therefore confirmed that WrestleMania Saturday tickets across any tier can be bought at a 25% discounted rate until the end of this week’s Raw. Pat McAfee then trashed the card for WrestleMania Sunday and asked the people not to waste their money buying tickets for that night. Cody Rhodes made his way out shortly after that, and he schooled the College GameDay host for a blooper he had on last week’s SmackDown by referring to Orton as an Attitude Era icon.

Rhodes said that ‘The Viper’ debuted in 2002 and watched the Attitude Era unfold during his high school days. ‘The American Nightmare’ slammed McAfee for disparaging wrestling fans by labeling them as marks, when, in reality, they’re customers, and they’re responsible for setting up a multi-generational wrestler. To Rhodes, those customers were family.

‘The QB1’ affirmed that the entire wrestling fandom is unanimously calling to see Orton and Rhodes go at it all by themselves in the main event of WrestleMania. As a result, the former AEW EVP asked Pat to go home.

Rhodes had prepared to leave the ring until McAfee started insulting him with the gorilla’s golden boy remark on top of having a spray tan, dyed hair, fake teeth, lispy lips, and wearing $10,000 suits just because Ric Flair said it’d look good.

Once McAfee declared that he wouldn’t be seen in this business if Orton doesn’t win his 15th world title at WrestleMania, Rhodes asked McAfee to take his shades off.

‘The Prodigal Son’ reminded the former Colts punter how he was “yeeting” on a weekly basis at that commentary desk for years and still had the gall to say that he hated what this business had become. Rhodes asked McAfee if he was tired of it. Because if he were, they could get Gunther behind McAfee to put him in his place.

Cody Rhodes finally exited the ring and started walking to the back. Pat McAfee had to get some words in, so he decided to tell Rhodes he was just an elite runaway. Referring to him as Stardust, McAfee wondered if Rhodes was again going to please Triple H to get even more opportunities. ‘The American Nightmare’ snapped and turned around to get his hands on McAfee until Orton appeared on the tron and showed that he had attacked Jelly Roll.

‘The Apex Predator’ dragged Roll out to the entrance stage, and Rhodes went over to check on him with Orton running away. It was a ruse as ‘The Legend Killer’ ambushed his former great friend while the latter was pressing McAfee. The Prodigal Son fought back but got outnumbered once Pat McAfee also got his hands dirty on him. McAfee raised Orton’s hand in the end, with McAfee holding the Undisputed WWE title up high to end the segment.

Damian Priest criticizes Pat McAfee’s involvement in Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton heading into WrestleMania 42

Apart from the fans being disgruntled with Pat McAfee being shoehorned into Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania feud with Randy Orton, the entire WWE locker room is equally disappointed with it. This can be deduced from Damian Priest‘s latest comments on the situation. The former World Heavyweight Champion was asked to share his thoughts on it during a conversation with Gabby LaSpica.

Damian Priest shoots on Pat McAfee in Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton feud
Damian Priest shoots on Pat McAfee in Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton feud [via- WWE]

Priest let out a stifled laugh before admitting that he wasn’t a fan of it. The former Judgment Day member asserted that knowing McAfee and how he usually got along well with him, the latter didn’t need to be involved, as it benefits no one in the story. ‘The Archer of Infamy’ also took slight offense with McAfee being allowed to drop F-bombs like he did last week and get away with no consequences.

Because something along those lines, even a word or so, could actually elevate a full-time WWE talent, but they don’t have the same luxury as McAfee. Priest admitted that it pissed him off. It’s a well-established fact at this point that McAfee is backed by TKO executives, with Ari Emanuel reportedly the driving force behind his integration. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis informed Cody Rhodes on this week’s show that he had received orders from above that nobody could lay a finger on Pat McAfee.

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