WWE Faces Backlash Over Celebrity-Driven WrestleMania 42 Build

Fans criticize the awkward feud between commentator Pat McAfee and musician Jelly Roll overshadowing the main event match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:20am

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An extreme close-up of shattered, glittering glass shards reflecting dramatic studio lighting, conveying a sense of high-stakes spectacle and underlying tension.The flashy visuals of WrestleMania 42 belie the growing disconnect between WWE and its core audience.Las Vegas Today

With WrestleMania 42 just a week away, WWE is facing criticism from fans over its heavy celebrity approach to promoting the marquee event. The main event feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton has been sidelined by an awkward proxy war between commentator Pat McAfee and musician Jelly Roll, leaving many fans wondering why WWE is prioritizing celebrity cross-promotion over the long-anticipated match between its top stars.

Why it matters

WWE has historically faced backlash when injecting too many celebrities into its biggest shows, with last year's WrestleMania 41 main event between Cody Rhodes and John Cena being marred by the controversial involvement of rapper Travis Scott. The company appears to be doubling down on this strategy for WrestleMania 42, raising concerns that it may alienate its core wrestling fanbase in pursuit of mainstream attention.

The details

On a recent episode of "Friday Night SmackDown," WWE continued to push the feud between Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll, which has seen the commentator repeatedly attack the musician despite him trying to play peacemaker between McAfee's ally Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. This celebrity-driven storyline has overshadowed the long-awaited match between Rhodes and Orton, which was originally billed as the main event of WrestleMania 42's first night.

  • WrestleMania 42 is scheduled to take place on April 19-20, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • The feud between Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll has been building for several weeks on WWE television leading up to WrestleMania 42.

The players

Cody Rhodes

A top WWE superstar who will defend his WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42.

Randy Orton

A veteran WWE superstar who is feuding with Cody Rhodes and aligned with commentator Pat McAfee.

Pat McAfee

A former NFL player who has transitioned into a WWE commentator and is now involved in a feud with musician Jelly Roll.

Jelly Roll

A musician who has been positioned as a peacemaker between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, but has been repeatedly attacked by Pat McAfee.

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What’s next

The main event match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 is expected to be a highly anticipated showdown, but the ongoing feud between Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll may continue to overshadow the marquee bout in the lead-up to the event.

The takeaway

WWE's heavy reliance on celebrity cross-promotion for its biggest event of the year has once again raised concerns among its core fanbase, who feel the company is prioritizing mainstream attention over delivering a satisfying wrestling product. The awkward feud between Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll threatens to undermine the long-awaited match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, potentially alienating longtime fans in the process.