Pat McAfee was revealed as the mystery caller aligned with Randy Orton during the April 3, 2026, episode of SmackDown in St. Louis. The long-running mystery, teased over several weeks with Orton speaking to an unidentified figure on the phone, finally came to a head during the broadcast.
In a shocking twist, McAfee turned heel, delivering a low blow to Cody Rhodes before helping Orton take down the Undisputed WWE Champion. McAfee didn’t hold back on the mic either, launching into a profanity-laced promo that took aim at WWE’s creative direction and the current product.
“The Rams left town, the Blues aren’t gonna make the playoffs, the Cardinals are a**…” he said, addressing the St. Louis crowd. He later added, “I’m the one on the phone telling Randy Orton he needs to kill everything!” and “(Randy Orton) is gonna save the f****** business!”
The storyline dates back to the March 20 episode of SmackDown, when Orton was first shown in conversation with the mystery caller. In subsequent segments, Orton credited the voice on the other end for influencing his recent actions, including a brutal attack on Matt Cardona. “I’m glad I picked up, you’re right. I’m gonna go to the ring right now, and I’m gonna fix it,” Orton said before assaulting Cardona.
RANDY ORTON IS GONNA SAVE THE BUSINESS#SmackDown https://t.co/fL0QwLIVwK pic.twitter.com/lnTEmhOOIt
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 4, 2026
Hints about the caller’s identity continued to build in the weeks that followed. In one segment, Orton suggested a prior connection, saying, “Yeah, I’m here. It was good seeing you a couple of weeks ago, too. I appreciate you doing this, I really do. And I’ll see you soon.”
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Before the reveal, the storyline briefly teased the possibility that the mystery caller could be Cowboy Bob Orton, Randy Orton’s father. However, McAfee’s shocking appearance confirmed a completely different direction, as WWE now builds toward WrestleMania 42, where Orton is set to face Rhodes in the Night 1 main event.
Reported Reason Behind Pat McAfee’s Involvement On SmackDown
Multiple reports indicate that Pat McAfee’s inclusion in the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes storyline was a strategic decision by WWE leadership. According to PWInsider, the directive to involve McAfee came from TKO.
A separate report from Bodyslam stated that TKO head honcho Ari Emanuel viewed McAfee as a key figure who could elevate the program’s profile.
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The report added that McAfee’s presence is intended to strengthen the feud’s visibility across platforms, including his ESPN show and weekly SmackDown appearances, in the final weeks leading up to WrestleMania 42.
