Pat McAfee Mocks Fans Who Wanted The Rock Or Vince McMahon As Randy Orton’s Mystery Caller

Fans spent weeks guessing who was secretly advising Randy Orton after his betrayal of Cody Rhodes, and two names kept coming up over and over — The Rock and Vince McMahon. Now Pat McAfee is addressing that speculation head-on after revealing he was the one behind the phone calls all along.

When Randy Orton was shown taking mysterious phone calls in the weeks following his turn on Cody Rhodes, many fans became convinced a major power figure was involved. The most common theories pointed to The Rock or Vince McMahon, with expectations growing that one of them would be revealed as the mastermind guiding Orton’s actions.

Instead, the April 3 episode of SmackDown delivered a very different outcome when Pat McAfee revealed himself as the mystery caller and attacked Cody Rhodes, placing himself directly into the feud.

During a recent episode of his show, McAfee addressed the disappointment from fans who expected a bigger name to be revealed. He made it clear he was aware of the speculation surrounding The Rock and Vince McMahon — and didn’t hesitate to push back on those expectations.

“‘How come it was McAfee on the phone?’ Because I fucking called him and told him, that’s why. ‘I wanted it to be The Rock.’ You think The Rock wants to do anything for you? ‘I wanted it to be Vince McMahon.’ Vince? Sorry. It was me. It was me,” he said.

Those comments directly acknowledged the widespread fan theories that had been circulating online, where many believed WWE was building toward a blockbuster reveal involving one of the company’s most powerful figures. The Rock hasn’t appeared on WWE television since Elimination Chamber 2025, when he aligned with John Cena and attacked Cody Rhodes, which only fueled speculation that he might still be secretly pulling strings.

Vince McMahon’s name also continued to surface in fan discussions despite his ongoing legal issues, which have kept him away from WWE television. The idea that either man could have been orchestrating Orton’s actions created a level of mystery that many believed would lead to a massive payoff.

Instead, WWE placed McAfee into the role, and he isn’t stepping aside anytime soon. McAfee is now scheduled to corner Randy Orton when he challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, ensuring his involvement remains central to the storyline.

The reaction from fans shows just how invested viewers became in guessing the identity behind those calls. Expectations grew around names like The Rock and Vince McMahon, making the final reveal one of the most talked-about moments leading into WrestleMania weekend.