Pat McAfee returned to WWE during last Friday's SmackDown, turning heel when he was revealed as the mystery voice in Randy Orton's ear heading into The Viper's WrestleMania 42 match with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
The ESPN host tore into the current WWE product and buried the product in a way that left fans and those backstage scratching their heads. We've since heard that TKO's Ari Emanuel pushed for McAfee's involvement, and that WWE is aware of the negative response to, well, all of it.
According to @WrestleVotes, in response to the backlash, the creative team has "reworked" several elements of the storyline heading into tonight's SmackDown. Previously, there was "additional outside involvement that was speculated to be Jelly Roll." That no longer seems to be the case.
As for CM Punk's fiery comments on RAW, those are "an indicator of the shift and plans becoming fluid" and "were not a part of the plan as of the Friday of the Pat McAfee reveal."
For what it's worth, in a lengthy X post, McAfee has hinted at a "massive surprise" he intends to announce on tonight's show. Whether that can salvage the whole thing remains to be seen, but it's likely another indication that WWE is attempting to fix a main event program that has gone off the rails...
Randy Orton is gonna save the business for future generations of wrestling fans. That’s so incredible to think about.. Very rarely do these types of obviously monumental moments happen in our lifetime.
My daughter and baby boy on the way are gonna have a WWE that is thriving.. a WWE that is the greatest form of entertainment on Earth, bar none, because the top of the company is gonna be exactly what it’s supposed to be.
A man sent DIRECTLY from the Wrestling AND Sports Entertainment Gods will be properly leading the business once again.
It is my honor to serve the future generations of wrestling fans as I motivate The 🐐, Randy Orton to not only become 15 TIME WORLD CHAMPION but also, become a man who saved his family’s business.
WrestleMania Saturday Night is gonna be The most Historic Night in the HISTORY of sports.. SO MUCH ON THE LINE. Multi-Generational pressure comes to a head. Randy will prevail… for all of us 🙏🏻
See also… I have a MASSIVE SURPRISE to announce tomorrow night.
You’ll start thanking me and Randy soon enough for all of this.
SEE YOU IN SAN JOSE
Also advertised for SmackDown tonight are Rhodes' response to Orton and McAfee, a promo segment featuring Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu, another with United States Champion Sami Zayn and Trick Williams, and the official debut of Royce Keys after his Royal Rumble appearance.