WWE.com and Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly elucidates precisely why Pat McAfee’s alliance with Randy Orton against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 on April 18 is poised to be the salvation of professional wrestling.
• GETTING STRAIGHT TO IT … Given Cody Rhodes’ spontaneous microphone moment concerning my boss, Pat McAfee, and CM Punk’s subsequent “pipe bomb” addressing the matter a few days later, I feel compelled to express my sentiments. Therefore, I’m stepping out of my usual comfort zone to articulate in the clearest terms why McAfee’s contributions to WWE, and wrestling in general, warrant—and will receive—appreciation. After a week of biting my tongue and shaking my head at the comical reactions, the time has come for me to drop my own truth bomb.
• FURTHERMORE … Seriously, what did McAfee utter to the audience that they haven’t already articulated in their reaction videos to Raw, SmackDown, or a Premium Live Event, simply hoping for acknowledgment from the media? Not a single word McAfee spoke was inaccurate or out of bounds, and they know it. When he declared about Cody Rhodes, “A man that represents everything that we hate,” reflect on your own years of commentary regarding Cody. His remark about the Gorilla Position—haven’t you witnessed that previously? However, this narrative isn’t solely about Cody as WWE Champion; he simply represents the latest iteration. It concerns a lifelong fan like McAfee, who, disillusioned by the evolution of the sport he once adored, is now actively working to change it. Unlike countless online complainers, McAfee is taking concrete action, and that, precisely, is what bothers you.
• THE MESSENGER WAS THE PROBLEM … I’ve often repeated a particular phrase, and this moment demands its revival: “Jealousy is a repulsive feeling, perhaps the most damaging.” This sentiment encapsulates the entire uproar. Fans are displeased because the individual communicating with Randy Orton over the past month wasn’t someone they deemed “fitting.” They desired a figure deeply entrenched in the wrestling world, possessing a significant legacy, to convey the message, rather than a “part-timer” who excelled in football and is now a universally admired, successful entrepreneur—except within wrestling circles. This perceived miscasting left fans feeling slighted. Resist the urge to envy a man who dedicates his valuable time to enhancing the industry he cherishes. I see no one else risking their standing quite like McAfee.
• OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED … Why Pat McAfee, you might wonder? Resolving an issue necessitates its recognition. McAfee perceived Randy Orton, a 14-time Champion, as underutilized and marginalized in an industry that, in his view, historically valued such talent. How does one rectify this? By sparking conversation. Objective achieved. Fans are incensed, disillusioned, and the dirt sheets are abuzz. Crucially, public interest has surged. When was the last occasion a seven-minute promo garnered such intense reactions merely by stating self-evident truths? It was brilliant. It initiated dialogue, which is inherently beneficial. This led to poignant promos from Punk and Rhodes, which are valuable for the business and foster discussion, regardless of their harshness towards a man genuinely attempting to improve the product. It drew in viewers who might not be devoted wrestling enthusiasts. Confess it: you watched Raw on Monday to hear the fallout. Objective achieved.
• DEEPER NARRATIVE AT PLAY: Should fans believe there’s nothing more to this storyline beyond McAfee’s SmackDown appearance, they are willingly deluding themselves. Every endeavor McAfee has undertaken has resulted in success, a testament to his sharp intellect, which extends far beyond a spontaneous return to SmackDown after almost a year, followed by brief “heel 101” jabs at St. Louis sports teams. McAfee is merely the vanguard, and all signs point to a larger scheme, yet you demand the full reveal immediately. Fans have allowed themselves to be misled. Deep down, they always understood what needed to transpire, and Pat McAfee is destined to be the catalyst. And when it unfolds, those same fans will claim they foresaw it all along. But then again, you “armchair bookers” out there always have everything perfectly mapped out, don’t you? “It feels like we are doing something special,” McAfee stated on his program. Absolutely.