Randy Orton opened WrestleMania SmackDown in Las Vegas with a loud cheer from the crowd, only to turn it into boos when he brought up Cody Rhodes and Pat McAfee in the same breath.
The April 17, 2026 episode served as the final television build to WrestleMania 42, airing from T-Mobile Arena and setting up Orton’s title challenge against Rhodes on night one of the event. Orton’s promo began with praise for the audience after they welcomed him despite recent tensions, then shifted when he declared he didn’t need Pat McAfee — drawing louder cheers — before adding “But I want him,” which triggered immediate boos. He framed his resentment toward Rhodes as one-sided, claiming Rhodes had taken more than he gave over their history, whereas insisting McAfee had done more for his career in a short time than Rhodes had in a lifetime.
Orton referenced past moments where Rhodes called on Seth Rollins for facilitate at WrestleMania 40, his own injury during the Solo Sikoa Bloodline fallout, and a failed title gift to Kevin Owens that backfired. He concluded by saying he would settle the score at WrestleMania with an RKO. The crowd responded positively to the critique of Rhodes until McAfee’s name entered the narrative, at which point the tone shifted sharply.
When Rhodes finally got the microphone later in the show, he avoided rehashing past grievances and instead framed the upcoming match as a personal confrontation with his oldest friend in the business. Before he could elaborate, CM Punk’s music hit, leading to a surprise reunion between the two former AEW stars, now WWE’s top champions set to headline each night of WrestleMania. Punk offered Rhodes encouragement, saying they’d both be back on Monday regardless of the outcome, prompting an emotional response from Rhodes, who credited his father’s pride in his journey. The two exited together into the crowd to celebrate.
Yahoo Sports criticized the segment as a missed opportunity, arguing Orton’s promo started strong by pulling from genuine history — including the overlooked tag team opportunity with Roman Reigns and The Rock two years prior — but collapsed when it returned to McAfee, whom the outlet described as an unnecessary celebrity co-sign for a future Hall of Famer. The analysis noted the crowd’s reaction made clear their allegiance ended when McAfee was introduced, undermining the legitimacy of Orton’s grievance.
Rhodes’ promo, while attempting to re-center the storyline, was seen as coming too late to regain momentum, especially after pivoting quickly back to Orton rather than developing his own point about being “needled” in past WrestleMania appearances. Punk’s appearance, though framed as a major moment, felt more like a final marketing push than a meaningful narrative development, with both stars dressed in Hall of Fame attire and focusing on future appearances rather than immediate stakes.
The undercard delivered decisive results: The MFTs defeated The Wyatt Sicks in an eight-man tag team street fight involving steel steps, kendo sticks, and chairs, with Solo Sikoa securing the win via Samoan Spike on Uncle Howdy. Jacob Fatu vowed to destroy Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania after a recent attack, while Damian Priest and R-Truth retained the Tag Team Titles over Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller using an innovative flapjack/flatliner maneuver. Rhea Ripley confronted Jade Cargill ahead of their women’s title match, and Tiffany Stratton won the Women’s United States Title No. 1 Contender’s match over Jordynne Grace.
WWE’s official recap confirmed the matches and timing, noting Orton’s promo aired at 3:07 and the tag team title match at 3:21, all available on ESPN App, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network, and Peacock. The event maintained its multi-platform rollout as the company pushed toward its flagship weekend.
Why did the crowd turn on Randy Orton when he mentioned Pat McAfee?
The audience initially supported Orton’s criticism of Cody Rhodes but reacted negatively when he brought up Pat McAfee, viewing the NFL analyst as an unnecessary intrusion into a personal feud and feeling it undermined Orton’s established legacy.
What was the significance of CM Punk’s appearance with Cody Rhodes?
Punk’s surprise appearance reunited two former AEW stars and current WWE champions, offering mutual encouragement ahead of their WrestleMania headline matches, though critics viewed it as more of a symbolic marketing moment than a plot-advancing segment.
How did Cody Rhodes respond to Randy Orton’s accusations?
Rhodes avoided revisiting past conflicts and instead focused on the upcoming match as a personal confrontation with his oldest friend, only to be interrupted by CM Punk’s music before he could fully elaborate.
