Cody Rhodes Calls Pat McAfee Angle 'The Most Ill-Received Thing In The History Of Wrestling'

From the Gobbledy Gooker's debut, to Katie Vick, to WWE trying to push a babyface Roman Reigns between 2014 and 2020, WWE fans have often reacted negatively to the company's storylines and plans. Cody Rhodes, however, believes the reveal of Pat McAfee as Randy Orton's mystery caller is the worst-received thing to ever happen in pro wrestling history.

"This is the most ill-received thing in the history of wrestling. Gobbledy Gooker was one, Shockmaster was up there but that was kind of funny. This is the entire fandom. Your fandom, my fandom, independent wrestling fans, casual fans, 'cinema' fans, every single fan who ever said 'wrestling' has received this with 'Huh? What?' So, worst-received thing in the history of wrestling," Cody said on SI Media with Jimmy Traina.

Rhodes isn't wholly negative on the situation, however. He isn't worried about the main event of WrestleMania 42 night one following Pat McAfee's insertion into the programme as Cody is still wrestling Randy Orton inside the squared circle.

"But I want to say something on the bright side because I have to be an optimist in general. On the bright side of this, Pat McAfee's a huge star and Pat McAfee's one of the faces, if not the face of ESPN. His College GameDay stuff is legendary. And a great athlete, and he loves wrestling. He's just trying to help our party out. So I respect him and I respect that," Cody continued.

"On the other side of it, I'm attuned to the online audience. But it's not just the online audience, it's every bit of the audience. I think one time I made a mistake saying every wrestler looks right at their phone. I didn't mean every wrestler immediately, but we all see it. I look at that and ask myself, kind of like when I was doing Stardust or when I was getting a bone here and there on my way up. I look at that and ask myself, 'How can we make this something?'

"Why I'm not worried about it at all is because Randy Orton is the guy I'm wrestling. Randy Orton is arguably the best he's ever been. The last year before even Randy turned on me, there were crowds that were reacting to Randy in such an insanely positive way because they were feeling the love. It was a respect thing. They saw John go, Randy's not going yet. But you could tell he's the hottest he's ever been, and he might be wrestler-wise, I watched him wrestle Undertaker the other day where he wrestles so differently, he might be the best he's ever been," Rhodes added.

"That to me means I know bell-to-bell we're gonna be just fine. Now, Pat, where that fits in, I am like you and I am excited to stand at the plate. We're talking about these guys, if you want that spot, that's it. There's others who run from that. John Cena dealt with it for years and years and years and I'm dealing with it too."

Pat McAfee was revealed as Randy Orton's mystery caller on the April 3 episode of SmackDown and McAfee will be in Orton's corner when he challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania 42.

The insertion of McAfee into the feud was above WWE creative and was reportedly a decision from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel to boost WrestleMania ticket sales and increase synergy between WWE and ESPN. The angle immediately received a backlash from fans, and WWE wrestlers were unhappy about McAfee joining the Rhodes vs. Orton feud too.

When the programme was originally pitched, the plan was for Jelly Roll to also be in Cody Rhodes' corner at WrestleMania 42. This would lead to Pat McAfee & Randy Orton vs. Jelly Roll & Cody Rhodes at Backlash, and that was still the plan as of last week.

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