Pat McAfee Returns to WWE, Aligns with Randy Orton

On the April 3 episode of WWE SmackDown, former NFL player and ESPN personality Pat McAfee made a surprise return to wrestling television, aligning himself with Randy Orton in the ongoing feud over the Undisputed WWE Championship against champion Cody Rhodes. The reveal came after weeks of mystery phone calls involving Orton, with McAfee attacking Rhodes in the ring and delivering a promo criticizing the current state of WWE programming.

McAfee, who had previously stepped away from WWE commentary, explained his involvement during the segment and later on his podcast. He positioned the alliance as an effort to elevate Orton, whom he described as "65, 275 pounds of perfection from the wrestling gods," and restore wrestling to its former glory. McAfee stated that Orton had been underutilized, including a recent six-month hiatus, and pledged that an Orton victory at WrestleMania 42 would "save the business." He further raised the stakes on social media, declaring that if Orton fails to win the title, McAfee would never return to WWE television.

The move originated from TKO Group Holdings Executive Chairman Ari Emanuel, who advocated for celebrity involvement to boost interest in the...