As previously reported, Pat McAfee was revealed as "The Viper" Randy Orton’s mystery caller this past Friday night on WWE SmackDown. The two joined forces to attack Undisputed WWE Champion "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. During the segment, McAfee criticized Rhodes and the current state of WWE, claiming that Orton would bring the company back to where it needs to be. It has since been reported that the idea to feature McAfee originated from Ari Emanuel and the TKO executives themselves.
In a Q&A column, PWInsider.com’s Mike Johnson addressed a fan inquiry regarding TKO's decision to use McAfee and why he was being integrated into the Orton vs. Rhodes feud. Johnson clarified that the decision to include McAfee in this storyline was mandated by TKO, with the directive reportedly coming about three weeks ago. WWE aimed to keep these plans confidential.
Additionally, Johnson noted that some believe McAfee's inclusion in the feud serves as a “bone for ESPN,” given his significant role at the network and the fact that WrestleMania will be broadcast on ESPN’s platform for the first time this year.
There have also been reports suggesting that the working relationship between WWE and ESPN has not been entirely smooth, as ESPN is looking to boost its subscriber numbers. Meanwhile, WWE has expressed dissatisfaction over ESPN not making its Unlimited tier for streaming available to all cable and satellite subscribers as initially intended. Therefore, incorporating McAfee into a major storyline is seen as a strategy to strengthen the alliance between WWE and ESPN.
It is worth noting that McAfee was already well-liked in WWE before being brought in for this angle. He has competed in WWE multiple times in the past, including at WrestleMania. During WWE: Unreal Season 2, WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque remarked, “Pat McAfee is the face of WWE to a lot of people.”
