Randy Orton Seen With Top WWE Title After SmackDown Attack; Issues Statement
Randy Orton and Pat McAfee left SmackDown with the Undisputed WWE Title that doesn’t belong to them.
WrestleMania 42 is just 7 days away, with the opening night set to take place on April 18.
The main event of WrestleMania Saturday is scheduled to be Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, who will have former NFLer, sports talk show host, and former WWE announcer Pat McAfee by his side.
After McAfee made his alliance known with Orton a week earlier, the duo was at it again on WWE SmackDown in San Jose.
During his promo in San Jose, McAfee said that because of him, WrestleMania Saturday tickets are 25% off from Friday to Monday. McAfee also trashed the World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and got into a verbal confrontation with Cody Rhodes. It was also made clear by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis that higher-ups in WWE informed everyone that McAfee wasn’t allowed to be touched.
McAfee got into a verbal altercation with Rhodes, and that brought out Randy Orton, who dragged singer Jelly Roll down to the ring because Orton beat him up. Orton and McAfee got the upper hand on Rhodes as Orton hit his draping DDT and hit Rhodes with the WWE Title as well.
After the damage was done, McAfee and Orton left with Rhodes’ WWE Title as they departed in a RAM Truck.
In an Instagram post, Randy Orton was shown holding the Undisputed WWE Championship, which could be his officially if he beats Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. If he does, it would be Orton’s 15th WWE World Title win in his incredible career. Orton wrote: “Number 15…One week. #WrestleMania”
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In the comments, Pat McAfee added to it by writing: “SAVING THE BUSINESS.” Meanwhile, Randy’s wife Kim supported her husband as usual: “You look good with that belt baby.”
Randy Orton Is Perfoming At A High Level
After winning the Elimination Chamber match, Randy Orton earned his shot at the Undisputed WWE Title held by Cody Rhodes. At the age of 46, Orton isn’t slowing down anytime soon, even though he’s been on the WWE main roster for 24 years.
Legendary women’s wrestler Nattie (aka Natalya) commented recently about Orton turning heel and why she believes Orton is as good as ever.
“I think it’s been a long time coming. That’s the thing with Randy, he stays ready. He’s in amazing shape, he’s performing so well, he’s better than he’s ever been, and he was ready.
There was a lull there with Randy, maybe I shouldn’t use the word lull, but there was a moment where even I, watching there as a fan, I was like, ‘Man, I want to see heel Randy.’ Because I think Randy has done his best work as a bad guy, and he’s a really unique bad guy.
He’s almost so fascinating as a bad guy that you start to like him. It’s almost like he’s just so fun to watch. It’s very iconic getting to watch this version of Randy and right now in 2026 in WWE because he’s better than he’s ever been.”
Even though many WWE fans don’t like Pat McAfee’s involvement in the Rhodes-Orton story, it appears it won’t end soon. It has been reported that Orton & McAfee are likely going to team up against Rhodes & Jelly Roll at WWE Backlash on May 9th. McAfee said on SmackDown that if Orton didn’t win #15 at WrestleMania, then McAfee would never appear on WWE television again.
Also Read: Major WWE Star Not A Fan Of Randy Orton: “He’s A Problem”