Pat McAfee’s WWE Storyline Role Believed to Come From TKO Leadership

Pat McAfee’s shocking involvement in the Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes storyline may not have come from WWE creative after all.

According to PWInsider Elite, there is a growing belief within WWE that the decision to insert McAfee into the storyline was pushed from the corporate side rather than from the creative team itself. The move surprised some internally, especially given how heavily McAfee was featured during the April 3 episode of SmackDown.

The report indicates that WWE sources believe the initiative came from TKO leadership, not the writers handling the weekly television direction. One source even suggested that the push may have come from the very top of the company, though that detail has not been officially confirmed. One source indicates that the order might have even come from Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO, although this is not confirmed.

The reasoning behind the move is believed to be tied to WWE’s broader media plans. The idea reportedly connects to WWE’s agreement with ESPN, particularly the deal to broadcast the first hour of each night of WrestleMania on linear television platforms.

That connection could explain why McAfee, who already has a strong presence in sports media and mainstream broadcasting, was placed directly into one of WWE’s biggest WrestleMania storylines involving Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.

McAfee made headlines during SmackDown when he was revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery ally and helped set up the attack on Cody Rhodes. He later added more fuel to the situation by publicly promising to walk away from wrestling television if Orton fails to win at WrestleMania 42.

With corporate influence reportedly playing a role in McAfee’s involvement, the storyline now carries an added layer of intrigue as WrestleMania 42 gets closer.

Do you think bringing Pat McAfee into the Orton and Cody Rhodes storyline through corporate influence is a smart move, or should WWE creative have handled it differently? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.