REPORTS: WWE Seriously Interested In Working With Major Personality

WWE has never shied away from partnering with a celebrity for a storyline.

The trend began in 1985 around the inaugural WrestleMania pay-per-view and has remained consistent ever since, with popular names making a splash by either interfering in matches or taking on a full-fledged feud with any active talent.

However, in early 2026, the practice faced a massive backlash with the introduction of Pat McAfee into the already established Randy Orton-Cody Rhodes rivalry.

The insertion of McAfee, which seemingly came at the behest of the CEO and executive chairman of TKO Group, Ari Emmanuel, annoyed not only fans but the company’s talents as well.

Many people believed that the feud had all the right ingredients and did not need an outside element. McAfee himself realized it and asked to be written off the storyline at WrestleMania 42.

At present, the only celebrity appearing in WWE is Lil Yachty, who aligned himself with Trick Williams around the same time when McAfee was brought into the Orton-Rhodes storyline.

WWE Keen On Working With Stephen A. Smith

While there was genuine displeasure in WWE with Pat McAfee’s involvement before WrestleMania 42, the same cannot be said about ESPN host Stephen A. Smith.

As reported by Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, the Stamford promotion is engaged in a “serious talk” with Smith. Reportedly, people who opposed McAfee’s insertion are in agreement with Smith’s introduction, too.

We haven’t seen anything with Stephen A. Smith yet, although, boy, has that name been talked about, and I know it’s serious talk. Put it this way, a lot of the people who were not happy about Pat McAfee, in fact, are favourable to Stephen A. as far as internally, it goes. [H/T: Cultaholic.com]

A similar report from WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select claimed that even the ESPN sources were “pleased and enthusiastic” about Stephen A. Smith being introduced in a WWE storyline.

While the angle surrounding the 58-year-old has yet to be determined, there is a possibility that he might be featured alongside Danhausen, who recently cursed Smith during an appearance on First Take last month.