WWE Legend Blasts SmackDown Overusing Celebrities: “This Is Embarrassing”
A former WWE performer thinks that the company is using too many celebrities on SmackDown on the road to WrestleMania 42.
Celebrities have been part of many WrestleMania events in the past and of WWE in general. However, it could be argued that the company is overdoing its celebrity use these days.
Pat McAfee has become a focal point on SmackDown over the last two weeks as an ally of Randy Orton, as The Viper goes after Cody Rhodes and the WWE Title at WrestleMania 42. Many people feel like the Orton-Rhodes story didn’t need anybody else involved, yet McAfee has become a big part of it.
While McAfee has been involved with WWE in the past as an announcer, this is the first time he’s become a heel and a focal point of a major story.
The Grammy Award-winning Jelly Roll has also regularly appeared on SmackDown, including in San Jose, where he was attacked by Randy Orton and McAfee. Jelly recently beat Kit Wilson for his first-ever victory as well.
Trick Williams has also had his buddy, rapper Lil Yachty, around with him on SmackDown as Trick tries to take the US Title from Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42.
Former WWE announcer, interviewer, authority figure, and sometimes wrestler Jonathan Coachman has often criticized WWE’s creative team, with Paul “Triple H” Levesque leading the way as the Chief Content Officer.
Following SmackDown in San Jose, Coach posted a video on social media expressing his frustration with WWE’s overuse of celebrities, and McAfee did a promo saying that WrestleMania Saturday tickets are 25% off for three days.
“Emergency Smackdown take: WHAT ARE WE DOING? I mean seriously what are we doing?
I never make a video on Friday night, but this is embarrassing, the business that I’ve been in for 25 years. Individually, I love Cody, Randy, Legends, Hall of Famers, Jelly Roll, one of my favorite performers, Pat McAfee, a unicorn. Respect. It’s not their fault.
But are you serious? Eight days before WrestleMania, we’re gonna do the equivalent of walking out there and having Pat McAfee say, I’m doing you a solid… here’s a coupon, everybody.
In what universe does a family of four say, oh, I get 25% off tickets tonight, so let me go book ,000 worth of plane tickets to go to Vegas and spend another three to ,000 after I get there on eight days notice because you offered me a discount.”
Coach Tells WWE To “Rip It All Up And Start Over”
As he continued, Coachman made the point that using celebrities in main event angles to sell WrestleMania tickets isn’t something WWE should be doing.
“Celebrities, no matter how much they train, should not be used in main event storyline as a prop… are really going to sell any more tickets. With eight days to go from people outside of Las Vegas, what are we doing?
“You’re dragging Jelly Roll… out on his back on the floor… it’s again, not their fault they’re given this garbage… Who’s writing this stuff? It’s time just to rip it all up and start over.”
While McAfee and Jelly Roll are likely going to be involved at WrestleMania, they may also be part of Backlash. It was reported that WWE is planning for Randy Orton & Pat McAfee to team up against Cody Rhodes & Jelly Roll at Backlash on May 9th, though that’s obviously not official yet.