It took Pat McAfee a couple of years to transition from the NFL into a successful college football analyst and host of The Pat McAfee Show
. But in just a few weeks, he has become WWE’s main bad guy heading into its biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.This Saturday, the former Indianapolis Colts punter leads Randy Orton into Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to face Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, with the title on the line.
McAfee’s involvement, however, has drawn heavy backlash. Many fans
felt the saga between Orton and Rhodes — built on nearly 20 years of friendship before Orton’s sudden violent betrayal — was strong enough on its own.
Instead, McAfee was inserted into their storyline on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, seemingly out of nowhere, two weeks before Mania. He was revealed as Orton’s mystery motivator, pushing Orton to be at his best while doing his worst to Rhodes.
McAfee, who says he’s here to save wrestling, was nearly booed out of the building last Friday after announcing he scored fans a 25% discount on WrestleMania Saturday tickets while simultaneously insulting them, calling the crowd “disgusting bums.”
Tensions escalated as McAfee ripped WWE’s roster and WrestleMania itself, calling the two-night event’s Sunday show “ass.” He clashed with Jelly Roll, a Rhodes supporter, resulting in Orton beating down the country music star.
On TV, his involvement is loosely tied to his agent Ari Emanuel, CEO and executive chair of TKO Group Holdings, WWE and UFC’s parent company. Bloomberg reported in February that Emanuel wants to turn McAfee into the next Sylvester Stallone. That may explain his role in this weekend’s extravaganza.
There also appears to be a layer of corporate synergy, with ESPN, home of The Pat McAfee Show, also carrying WWE’s premium live events. The more McAfee mentions WWE on his show, the more it becomes a pipeline to a wider audience.
That strategy, though, does nothing to calm irate fans. Many who once embraced McAfee as a commentator and occasional in-ring performer now want him off WWE television.
In storyline terms, McAfee has said he will leave WWE forever if Orton fails to defeat Rhodes. But with business interests in play, the odds don’t favor Rhodes or the fans, whose frustrations may boil over on Saturday in Sin City.
Celebrity Takeover
Pat McAfee isn’t the only celebrity taking over this year’s two-night event. IShowSpeed, the online streamer and internet star, is teaming with WWE’s World Tag Team Champions — fellow influencer Logan Paul and his partner, Austin Theory — to face The Usos and LA Knight.
With nearly 150 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, WWE is aiming to tap into Speed’s audience. After running afoul of the good guys, Speed — unlike McAfee — is likely to face his comeuppance as he and his team open WrestleMania Saturday, which airs free on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. ET.
John Cena returns to WWE at WrestleMania but will not compete. Instead, the recently retired wrestler-turned-actor will host the event. Joe Jonas will perform the national anthem at WrestleMania Sunday, and rapper Lil Yachty will accompany rising star Trick Williams as he challenges Sami Zayn for the United States Championship.
A Vegas-Worthy Fight Card
Beyond the celebrity involvement, WrestleMania 42 still features high-stakes matches for traditional wrestling fans that are fitting of the “Fight Capital of the World.”
Roman Reigns, whose WrestleMania accolades have eclipsed WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, challenges CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship, the top prize on Monday Night Raw.
Reigns not only wants the title, but also the respect that fans have long given to Punk, who remains a folk hero in the wrestling world. Punk, meanwhile, looks to cement his legacy during the main event of WrestleMania Sunday.
Fight fans never got to see Muhammad Ali face Mike Tyson for heavyweight supremacy. Fortunately, wrestling’s equivalent of said dream match arrives Sunday when Brock Lesnar takes on Oba Femi.
Lesnar, a former WWE and UFC champion, remains dominant late in his career but faces a younger, taller opponent who outweighs him by nearly 20 pounds. A two-time SEC shot put champion at Alabama, Femi has manhandled Lesnar in the buildup.
Fans have rallied behind the Nigerian powerhouse, viewing the matchup as a potential torch-passing moment. The bout opens WrestleMania Sunday, airing free in the first hour on ESPN.
In total, WrestleMania 42 features 13 matches spread across two nights. Barring last-minute additions, the card is as follows:
WrestleMania Saturday — April 18
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (w/ Pat McAfee)
- WWE Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
- Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way: Nia Jax & Lash Legend (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (c) vs. Becky Lynch
- Special Attraction: Gunther vs. Seth Rollins
- Airing on ESPN2 – Unsanctioned Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre
- Airing on ESPN2: The Usos & LA Knight vs. IShowSpeed, Logan Paul & Austin Theory
WrestleMania Sunday — April 19
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns
- WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
- WWE United States Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
- Grudge Match: “The Demon” Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
- Airing on ESPN – WWE Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Penta (c) vs. Je’von Evans vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio
- Airing on ESPN: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
How to Watch WrestleMania 42
Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, hosts WrestleMania 42 on April 18–19 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. The first hour of Saturday’s show airs on ESPN2 and Sunday’s on ESPN, with full streaming on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan. Select movie theaters will host live screenings, with tickets available through Fandango. Internationally, WrestleMania streams on Netflix.
