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On the Monday edition of his ESPN show, Pat McAfee addressed the negative reaction to his involvement in Randy Orton’s feud with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and mocked fans who wanted someone else to be in The Viper’s corner.
WWE teased the involvement of a mystery partner speaking to Randy Orton on phone calls during backstage segments. Speculation about the identity of the caller spread on social media, with names like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Vince McMahon, and Randy’s father Cowboy Bob Orton being thrown around.
When it was ultimately revealed earlier this month on SmackDown that McAfee was the caller, many fans were furious. The negative reaction to the former football player turned sports commentator being Orton’s secret weapon has itself become somewhat of its own storyline, with WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk notoriously venting about McAfee during a recent pipe bomb promo on Raw.
Discussing the angle on his show, McAfee was unrepentant about taking on the more active role in WWE while dismissing fans’ wishes about the mystery caller.
“‘How come it was McAfee on the phone?’ Because I f***ing called him and told him, that’s why,” McAfee said in a mocking tone.
He continued: “’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.”
Despite the controversy surrounding his appearances, McAfee continued on by saying he’s “having a good time out there” being in the WWE mix.
“I think people should know that in the long run, whenever people look back on this entire thing, they’re going to say, ‘Thank you, Randy,’” he further claimed.
However, McAfee wasn’t done with selling the angle to viewers of his ESPN show. He then slammed Jelly Roll for also getting entangled in the Orton-Rhodes rivalry by coming to Cody’s aid when Randy and Pat were double-teaming him. Now, it appears the music superstar will also be involved in the main event for night one of WrestleMania 42 this weekend in Las Vegas.
“Listen, we love Jelly normally, but he’s just not supposed to be putting his nose in this business. He’s an outsider, clear as day,” McAfee said.
What do you think about Pat mocking fans who wanted someone else as the mystery caller? What about Pat labeling Jelly Roll “an outsider”? Let us know in the comments.
