According to Mike Johnson from PWInsider.com, Pat McAfee's involvement in the WrestleMania 42 storyline featuring Undisputed WWE Champion "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and "The Viper" Randy Orton has raised concerns among WWE talent. Many performers believe that the Rhodes vs. Orton program already had sufficient history and narrative on its own.
The report also indicates that the addition of McAfee is viewed by some as unnecessary within the context of the storyline. Several talents backstage argued that the match did not require an additional element. Sources have mentioned that talent feels Rhodes must now handle added expectations, and while Johnson notes that Rhodes did not promote the McAfee issue to anyone, there is still sympathy backstage for him in light of the extra pressure he faces.
McAfee delivered an unscripted promo on WWE SmackDown connected to the feud, which did not sit well with many of his peers. This appearance garnered attention backstage, with some talent reacting negatively to both the content and its timing within the build-up to WrestleMania 42. Earlier reports suggested that the creative direction concerning McAfee originated from TKO Group Holdings' "top brass" rather than WWE's usual creative team, led by Triple H.
The Rhodes vs. Orton match is scheduled for Night 1 of WrestleMania 42, and it is built on their longstanding history, which dates back to their earlier associations in WWE storylines.
