Randy Orton's Mysterious Ally Revealed as Returning Pat McAfee on WWE SmackDown

McAfee makes a surprise return to assist Orton ahead of his WrestleMania 42 match with Cody Rhodes.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a wrestling match or confrontation between two wrestlers, with sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors representing the dynamic action and tension of the scene.The unexpected alliance between Randy Orton and Pat McAfee adds an intriguing new layer of complexity to their WrestleMania showdown with Cody Rhodes.St. Louis Today

In the opening segment of WWE SmackDown, it was revealed that Randy Orton's mysterious phone ally was returning WWE personality Pat McAfee. McAfee, now playing a heel character, made his return to SmackDown and hit a low blow on the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes before cutting a lengthy promo criticizing WWE and praising Orton as the one who can 'save the business'.

Why it matters

This unexpected alliance between Orton and McAfee adds an intriguing new wrinkle to the build-up for Orton's WrestleMania match against Rhodes, the current Undisputed WWE Champion. McAfee's return as Orton's ally also signals a potential shift in his on-screen persona, moving from a fan-favorite commentator to a more antagonistic heel character.

The details

Orton opened the show in his hometown of St. Louis, saying he was doing it all for his wife and kids at ringside. Cody Rhodes then came out and the two started brawling, until McAfee interrupted and got in the ring. McAfee ran down the sports teams of St. Louis and questioned why WrestleMania tickets were still available with Orton around. He told Rhodes that he was the one advising Orton, not just because of his journey to a 15th world title, but because the 'business' Rhodes is leading is 'terrible' and Orton is 'going to save the f****** business'.

  • The segment took place on the April 4, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown.

The players

Randy Orton

A 15-time world champion in WWE and one of the company's top superstars for over 15 years.

Cody Rhodes

The current Undisputed WWE Champion, who is set to defend his title against Orton at WrestleMania 42.

Pat McAfee

A former NFL punter who has transitioned into a popular WWE personality, serving as a commentator and analyst. He is now returning as a heel character to ally with Orton.

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What they’re saying

“He said it was because the business Rhodes is leading is "terrible" and Orton is "going to save the f****** business.”

— Pat McAfee

What’s next

Fans will have to tune in to future episodes of WWE programming to see how this new alliance between Orton and McAfee develops and how it impacts Orton's WrestleMania match against Rhodes.

The takeaway

This unexpected pairing of Orton and McAfee adds an intriguing new layer to the build-up for one of the top matches at WrestleMania 42, as McAfee's return signals a potential shift in his on-screen persona from fan-favorite to antagonistic heel.