Pat McAfee Makes Big WrestleMania 42 Promise, But Fans Upset Over His Involvement

The ESPN pundit is doubling down on his support for Randy Orton ahead of the big event.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:24am

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Pat McAfee, the ESPN commentator, has made a bold promise ahead of WrestleMania 42 - if Randy Orton doesn't win the WWE Championship, McAfee says he'll never be seen or heard in the wrestling world again. However, many fans are upset that McAfee is being inserted into the Orton vs. Cody Rhodes feud, feeling it's unnecessary and that the storyline would be better served with an experienced veteran like Kevin Owens instead.

Why it matters

McAfee's involvement in the WrestleMania 42 main event is seen by some fans as a ploy to generate more interest and viewership for the event, which is struggling to sell tickets. There are concerns that the creative direction of the WWE has dipped, leading to lower fan engagement, and that bringing in outside personalities like McAfee is a Band-Aid solution rather than addressing the core storytelling issues.

The details

After making a surprise appearance on SmackDown, McAfee doubled down on his support for Randy Orton, saying that if Orton doesn't become a 15-time world champion and 'save the business' at WrestleMania 42, McAfee will never be involved in wrestling again. This comes about a month after McAfee said he was likely done as a WWE commentator. There are rumors that WWE executive Ari Emanuel pushed for McAfee's involvement in the Orton vs. Rhodes feud, believing he would bring more energy and eyes to the match.

  • McAfee made his surprise SmackDown appearance about a month after saying he was likely done as a WWE commentator.
  • WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18-19, 2026 in Las Vegas.

The players

Pat McAfee

An ESPN commentator and personality who has made surprise appearances in WWE, including now being inserted into the main event storyline for WrestleMania 42.

Randy Orton

A veteran WWE superstar who is set to face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42, with McAfee as his mystery guest.

Cody Rhodes

A rising WWE star who is set to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42.

Ari Emanuel

The CEO of Endeavor, the parent company of WWE, who is rumored to have pushed for McAfee's involvement in the Orton vs. Rhodes feud.

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What they’re saying

“The only 'shock' is that @RandyOrton, the greatest Sports Entertainer of all time, isn't running @WWE. That all changes at Mania… When he becomes 15 TIME WORLD CHAMPION AND SAVES THE BUSINESS for future generations while doing so. And if he doesn't… I'll NEVER BE SEEN OR HEARD IN THE WRESTLING WORLD AGAIN.”

— Pat McAfee, ESPN Commentator

What’s next

Fans will have to wait and see if McAfee's bold promise comes true at WrestleMania 42, and whether his involvement in the Orton vs. Rhodes feud helps or hurts the overall storyline and fan engagement.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing creative challenges the WWE faces, as they try to generate more interest and viewership for their biggest event of the year. Bringing in outside personalities like McAfee may be a short-term solution, but many fans feel the focus should be on improving the core storytelling and utilizing veteran wrestlers in meaningful ways.