Pat McAfee Initially Rejected WrestleMania 42 Role Before Deal Was Reached

Pat McAfee almost wasn’t part of Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes’ feud — and now we know how it actually came together.

Dave Meltzer revealed on Wrestling Observer Radio that McAfee was the first choice for celebrity involvement in the WrestleMania 42 build — but initially turned the role down before eventually agreeing to it. Meltzer explained that the push to bring McAfee in didn’t start with weekly creative — it came from higher up, specifically from Ari Emanuel, who wanted celebrity involvement tied into the main event program.

“Pat McAfee was the first choice, and it was from Ari Emanuel, that’s where it came from,” Meltzer reported. “They wanted celebrity involvement……Originally, Pat McAfee was the choice, and he turned it down, and then they were scrambling to get somebody else in the spot.”

That part is key — because it shows WWE didn’t have a backup locked in right away and were actively looking for alternatives after McAfee initially said no. According to Meltzer, things changed quickly once a deal was worked out, leading directly to McAfee’s appearance on the April 3 SmackDown: “And then obviously, they were able to make a deal with him, so he did it, and he was there.”

That appearance saw McAfee align with Randy Orton and attack Cody Rhodes — a moment that immediately sparked backlash and raised questions about how the decision was made.

This update fills in a major gap. While earlier reports pointed to corporate influence behind the move, it now confirms McAfee wasn’t just brought in on a whim — he was the original target, briefly passed on the role, and then circled back into the storyline once terms were finalized. So, with WrestleMania 42 approaching, it’s clear this angle was carefully pushed into place — even if it didn’t come together as smoothly as it may have looked on TV.

Do you think WWE should have stuck with a different option after McAfee initially turned it down, or did they make the right call bringing him back into the storyline? Let us know your thoughts.