All articles tagged with #pat mcafee
Adam Schefter’s on-air claim on The Pat McAfee Show that George Pickens wants a long-term contract or a trade, with the Cowboys reportedly not offering a long-term deal, circulated before Pat McAfee deleted the clip. The move adds uncertainty to Pickens’ status (franchise tag) and the Cowboys’ plans at WR as they weigh potential trades or acquisitions.
First-round TV coverage favored faster, more decisive picks, with Ty Simpson’s 13th‑overall selection stealing the moment. Ian Rapoport delivered a strong insider scoop about the Steelers and Makai Lemon, while Pat McAfee’s hybrid show mixed humor and analysis (including Ty Schmit’s Mel Kiper Jr. impression). The author also praises Daniel Jeremiah as the top TV draft analyst and notes Greenberg’s interview with Roger Goodell as solid but predictable.
Wrestling Observer notes that Cody Rhodes’s night-one win over Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 was decided before the show, with Pat McAfee’s opt‑out and widespread backstage negativity prompting WWE to pivot to a Rhodes vs. Punk angle (potentially for SummerSlam). The chaotic day was likened to WCW, and the piece hints at continuing storylines sparked by the match, all detailed in the Observer’s latest issue available to subscribers.
Pat McAfee has declared his WWE chapter is officially over, saying wrestling is now in his rearview mirror after WrestleMania 42, where he pursued a feud with Cody Rhodes against Randy Orton. The former commentator and occasional in-ring performer walked away in 2025 due to mental exhaustion and subsequent returns, and he now confirms he won’t be returning to wrestling.
Pat McAfee announced he’s leaving WWE and heaped praise on Cody Rhodes after Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42. He detailed a neck injury from Jelly Roll’s splash and an RKO, wearing a neck brace while awaiting scan results, along with other cuts and bruises from the Night 1 Las Vegas main event where Orton attacked Rhodes and Rhodes still won. McAfee suggested the business doesn’t need saving after all, while noting Rhodes’ resilience and Orton’s status.
A WWE SmackDown star was originally pitched to play the role that Pat McAfee filled at WrestleMania 42, but McAfee ultimately landed the part.
PWInsider reports WWE originally pitched a darker WrestleMania 42 arc where Aleister Black tormented Randy Orton to force the return of his Apex Predator persona, culminating in a Mania weekend match and a post‑match angle tying into Cody Rhodes; the plan was ultimately superseded by Pat McAfee’s chaotic WrestleMania role, though the essence of Orton's dangerous comeback remained.
Pat McAfee’s WWE run appears to have ended at WrestleMania 42 after a heel turn on Cody Rhodes and a chaotic clash involving Randy Orton. McAfee was stretchered out, then returned as a referee before being stunned by an RKO from Orton, with Rhodes retaining the title. McAfee’s pre-match stipulation that he would quit wrestling if Orton failed to dethrone Rhodes suggests his in‑ring career may be over.
At WrestleMania 42 Night One in Las Vegas, Jelly Roll helped execute a desk spot that sent Pat McAfee out on a stretcher after McAfee’s pre-match confrontation, fueling talk of Roll/Rhodes vs. McAfee/Orton at Backlash; McAfee later returned to the show.
Night One of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas runs from a 3:00 p.m. ET Countdown to the premium live event at 6:00 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN2 before moving to ESPN’s streaming platform (Netflix in other regions). The card features four title bouts and several top matches: Undisputed WWE Championship Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton with Pat McAfee in Orton’s corner; WWE Women’s World Championship Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan; a Fatal 4-Way Women’s Tag Team Championship match (Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins); Women’s Intercontinental Championship AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch; Gunther vs. Seth Rollins; Unsanctioned Match Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre; and a Trios Match The Usos & LA Knight vs. IShowSpeed, Logan Paul & Austin Theory.
Randy Orton opened SmackDown with a promo trying to justify his betrayal of Cody Rhodes and explain why he’s fighting Rhodes for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, but the crowd loudly booed Rhodes’ name as the segment shoehorned Pat McAfee into the feud. Rhodes is set to respond later, and coverage tracks the go-home fallout ahead of WrestleMania Saturday.
Cody Rhodes called Pat McAfee’s WrestleMania 42 angle the most ill-received in wrestling history during an SI Media interview, likening it to Gobbledy Gooker and Shockmaster while praising McAfee as a star but criticizing the booking and promo misfires, hinting that fan and ticket sales reactions may reflect broader business concerns for WrestleMania 42.
Pat McAfee pivots from NFL to WWE, becoming the weekend’s central heel as he leads Randy Orton against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42—a late-in storyline that has drawn fan backlash. The two-night event features celebrity appearances (IShowSpeed with Logan Paul and Austin Theory; John Cena hosting; Joe Jonas performing the national anthem; Lil Yachty with Trick Williams) alongside traditional matches like Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk and Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi, with coverage on ESPN networks and optional theater screenings.
Cody Rhodes invaded Pat McAfee's studio with a baseball bat to reclaim the WWE Championship, ensuring he'll head into WrestleMania 42 night one in Las Vegas with the belt, though whether he retains at Mania remains uncertain.
Cody Rhodes, speaking on SI Media With Jimmy Traina, called the Pat McAfee–Randy Orton storyline that led into WrestleMania 42 the most ill-received in wrestling history, even joking it tops notorious flops like the Gobbledygooker and Shockmaster. He credits McAfee’s star power and says the team will try to turn the angle around, noting he’s not worried because his focus remains on wrestling Randy Orton and appealing beyond the online crowd.