Word is that last night’s Pat McAfee reveal wasn’t the decision of WWE creative.
BodySlam+ reports that TKO’s executive chairman Ari Emanuel stepped in and booked McAfee into the angle.
The thought behind the booking is that McAfee’s mainstream popularity will translate into more Mania ticket sales.
In the last few weeks WWE had introduced John Cena, Jelly Roll and Lil Yachty into the Mania build-up hoping that will spark interest especially with mainstream fans.
On last night’s Smackdown broadcast, McAfee was revealed to be the person who has been the mysterious caller speaking with Randy Orton. He and Orton beatdown Cody Rhodes with McAfree saying the Attitude Era stars have been forgotten and WWE is heading the wrong direction saying:
“Why when I turn on WWE TV I have to watch two 5’5 guys doing 45 minute Iron Man matches ten weeks straight for no rhyme or reason when Randy Orton is around? Why do I turn on Netflix and I see all of gorilla #$%&%* themselves episode after episode when Randy Orton is around? Tickets to WrestleMania are still somehow available when Randy Orton is around. Smackdown, fresh off the worst rated episode of all time has a puppet for a champion and a man who represents everything that we hate.”
Randy Orton’s Mysterious Caller Finally Appears on SmackDown
