Pat McAfee is not apologetic about being the one behind the phone calls to Randy Orton, and he had a pointed response for fans who were hoping for someone else.
McAfee revealed himself as Orton’s mystery advisor on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, attacking Cody Rhodes and aligning himself with The Viper weeks before their WrestleMania 42 showdown against the WWE Champion. On his ESPN show, McAfee addressed the disappointment from fans who had been speculating about bigger names on the other end of those calls.
“‘How come it was McAfee on the phone?’ Because I f***ing 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,” McAfee said.
The Rock has not appeared on WWE television since Elimination Chamber 2025, when he aligned with John Cena to take out Rhodes. Vince McMahon continues to face a civil lawsuit from former employee Janel Grant, who has accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking, making any return to the public eye complicated.
McAfee is set to corner Orton at WrestleMania 42 when The Viper challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night One at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18. A previous report from Dave Meltzer stated that WWE is currently planning to have McAfee and Orton team together against Rhodes and Jelly Roll at Backlash in May.
