Pat McAfee Hints at Brewing Conflict Between WWE and TKO Ahead of WrestleMania 42

McAfee reposted Roman Reigns' rebuttal to CM Punk, suggesting a potential power struggle is taking shape.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a wrestling match between two figures, their bodies and movements fractured and deconstructed into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant red, blue, and yellow colors, conceptually representing the tensions and power dynamics within the professional wrestling industry.The brewing power struggle between WWE's traditional roster and the corporate interests of TKO comes to a head at WrestleMania 42.Indianapolis Today

In the lead-up to WrestleMania 42, a line appears to be drawn between WWE and its corporate parent, TKO, as Pat McAfee aligns with Roman Reigns following Reigns' rebuttal to CM Punk's recent comments. McAfee reposted Reigns' message, hinting that 'it's all starting to come together' for the 'IWC nerds', suggesting a potential power struggle between the two factions - Orton, Reigns, and McAfee representing TKO's star-driven approach, while Punk and Cody Rhodes lead WWE's traditional roster.

Why it matters

This developing storyline ahead of WrestleMania 42 suggests a larger conflict brewing between WWE and its parent company TKO, which could have significant implications for the future direction of professional wrestling. The alignment of high-profile stars like Reigns, Orton, and McAfee against Punk and Rhodes hints at a clash of philosophies between the two entities.

The details

After Pat McAfee initially criticized WrestleMania Sunday and its co-headliner CM Punk, he has now aligned himself with Punk's opponent, Roman Reigns. This came after Reigns delivered a three-minute rebuttal to a recent Punk interview, in which Reigns pointed to Punk's recent inactivity as world champion and his past failures in the UFC. Reigns also used the term 'internet marks,' implying Punk falls into that category. McAfee later reposted Reigns' message, writing, 'It's all starting to come together for you IWC nerds isn't it? Your time is up… The Business is about to be saved by Randy Orton on Saturday night and then Roman will drive it home on Sunday night.' Reigns then reposted McAfee's message and added, 'Shopping Indy real estate now,' which could be a jab at Punk or a hint that he's siding with McAfee, who lives in Indianapolis.

  • On Wednesday, Punk continued complaining about Reigns' part-time status and how, as a second-generation star, he didn't have to grind his way to the top.
  • On Thursday, Reigns responded to Punk's comments.
  • On Monday's Raw, Reigns addressed Punk and said he had no issue with McAfee, who had taken exception to Punk previously calling him out.

The players

Pat McAfee

A retired sports radio anchor who has fallen in love with pro wrestling and has now aligned himself with Roman Reigns and Randy Orton, representing the TKO faction.

Roman Reigns

The current WWE Universal Champion, who has delivered a rebuttal to CM Punk's recent comments and appears to be aligning with the TKO faction.

CM Punk

A former WWE Champion who has been critical of Reigns' part-time status and his status as a second-generation star, and is now leading the traditional WWE roster against the TKO faction.

Randy Orton

A veteran WWE superstar who is set to face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 and is part of the TKO faction alongside Reigns and McAfee.

Cody Rhodes

A rising WWE superstar who is set to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 and is part of the traditional WWE roster opposing the TKO faction.

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What they’re saying

“It's all starting to come together for you IWC nerds isn't it? Your time is up… The Business is about to be saved by Randy Orton on Saturday night and then Roman will drive it home on Sunday night.”

— Pat McAfee, Retired Sports Radio Anchor

“Shopping Indy real estate now.”

— Roman Reigns, WWE Universal Champion

What’s next

The conflict between the TKO faction and the traditional WWE roster will likely come to a head at WrestleMania 42, where Orton and Reigns are set to compete in separate matches against Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, respectively.

The takeaway

This developing storyline ahead of WrestleMania 42 suggests a larger power struggle brewing between WWE and its corporate parent, TKO, with the two sides representing different philosophies on the direction of professional wrestling. The alignment of high-profile stars like Reigns, Orton, and McAfee against Punk and Rhodes could have significant implications for the future of the industry.