Original Plans For Randy Orton’s Mystery Caller In WWE Revealed
An interesting detail has come to light about Randy Orton’s mystery caller storyline in WWE.
After weeks of teases, Pat McAfee was revealed to be Randy Orton’s secret ally on the latest edition of Friday Night SmackDown. McAfee criticized the current state of WWE in his promo, and according to him, only The Viper can save the business.
This revelation garnered a lot of negative reaction from fans on social media. According to Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Radio, Pat McAfee was always the first choice to be Orton’s partner. The directive reportedly came from Ari Emanuel, as TKO wanted celebrity involvement in the Randy Orton-Cody Rhodes WrestleMania program.
Pat McAfee allegedly turned down the offer initially, leading to a scramble to get someone else in for the role. But in the end, the NFL icon ended up accepting the deal.
Pat McAfee was the first choice and it was from Ari Emanuel. That’s where it came from. They wanted celebrity involvement. Originally from what I was told, Pat McAfee was the choice and he turned it down. Then they were scrambling to get somebody else in the spot, and then obviously, they were able to make a deal with him. So he did it and he was there.
Pat McAfee reportedly turned down the initial pitch to be involved in the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton storyline:
“Pat McAfee was the first choice and it was from Ari Emanuel. That’s where it came from. They wanted celebrity involvement.
Originally from what I was told, Pat… pic.twitter.com/XODcYNaakY
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) April 6, 2026
WWE legend supports Pat McAfee’s inclusion in Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton plot
While speaking on a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry made it clear that he is excited by the Pat McAfee twist ahead of WWE WrestleMania 42. He also added that the Cody vs. Orton feud could turn out to be Attitude Era-esque.
A lot of the hardcore, old-school wrestling guys keep saying stuff like, ‘I used to watch back in the Attitude Era. I used to watch when guys looked like they would just beat you up just for looking at them. The days of big, burly, middle-aged men wrestling is over. That’s why our business is soft now.
That’s what Pat McAfee was saying. ‘I want to bring back that part of wrestling—the toughness, the aggressiveness. We’re a little too PG.’ That’s what Pat McAfee is saying. He wants to help change it.
I want change. I love the fact that there’s somebody else that wants change, and sometimes, in order to have change, you’ve got to ruffle a few feathers. And so far, it looks like everybody’s feathers are ruffled.
What Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes are heading towards is going to be Attitude Era-esque. I’m excited for WrestleMania even more than I already was.
It remains to be seen what twists Triple H has lined up for WWE fans in the coming weeks.
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