Cody Rhodes Questions Pat McAfee’s WrestleMania Role After Randy Orton Storyline Shift

Cody Rhodes didn’t hold back when discussing how Pat McAfee became part of his ongoing WrestleMania storyline, and his comments made it clear that the shift caught his attention.

While appearing on Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, Rhodes reflected on his long history with Randy Orton and explained how their connection stretches back nearly two decades. According to Rhodes, the foundation for their WrestleMania feud was already strong because of everything they’ve shared in WWE over the years. He pointed to Orton’s influence on his career and the personal ties between their families as proof that their rivalry already had built-in depth before any outside additions.

After laying out that history, Rhodes addressed the moment where McAfee became part of the story, making it clear that the change stood out to him.

“Randy Orton, who I'm wrestling at WrestleMania, we have like almost two decades of history between each other. He was my mentor. I had Cena, who I drove around. I had Randy — very different opinions — but also really helped shape me. We were on screen together as part of his group Legacy. He had my dad's last match, my first match in the company's Randy. There was a lot of rich story material… and then we inserted Pat McAfee — and that's… we are literally in that part right there.”

Rhodes’ remarks didn’t sound like an outright attack, but they clearly showed that McAfee’s presence raised questions about how the storyline evolved. His emphasis on the deep personal history between himself and Orton made it clear that he viewed their rivalry as something that didn’t necessarily need outside additions to remain compelling.

With WrestleMania drawing closer, the tension surrounding how this story unfolds is only growing. Rhodes’ words suggest he’s fully aware of how the dynamic has changed — and fans are watching closely to see how everything plays out once the bell rings.

What do you think about Pat McAfee being inserted into Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania storyline with Randy Orton? Do you think it adds to the story or takes away from it? Drop your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.

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