Pat McAfee Surprises Fans with WWE Return at Smackdown

Pat McAfee Joins Wrestlemania 42 Storyline

In a surprising twist, Pat McAfee made his return to WWE during the opening segment of Smackdown, aligning himself with Randy Orton in the storyline leading up to Wrestlemania 42 against Cody Rhodes. Fans were taken aback by McAfee's involvement, as he has not previously been linked to either wrestler. However, WWE has decided to integrate him into this major storyline just weeks before the event. Reports indicate that this decision came from the higher-ups at TKO, with Triple H, WWE's Chief Content Officer, giving the green light for McAfee's inclusion in the Wrestlemania main event.

McAfee, who hosts shows on ESPN during the week, is a former WWE commentator and has participated in matches, including a notable bout against Austin Theory at Wrestlemania 38. His last match was in May 2025, where he faced Gunther at Backlash 2025.

Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes Set for Wrestlemania 42

Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes to Main Event Night 1

WWE has officially announced that the match between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes will headline the first night of Wrestlemania 42. Orton secured his title shot by winning the Elimination Chamber match, where he eliminated Cody to claim victory. Initially, Orton was set to face Drew McIntyre, the reigning champion. However, Cody challenged McIntyre on Smackdown and emerged victorious, becoming a three-time Undisputed WWE Champion. As a result, Orton has turned heel and will enter Wrestlemania 42 as the antagonist.

The main event for night two will feature a World Heavyweight Championship match between Roman Reigns and CM Punk, with Reigns competing for this title for the first time in his career after winning the Royal Rumble.