Summary

Backstage frustration reportedly picked up in WWE after Pat McAfee was revealed as Randy Orton's mystery phone caller on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, where he also attacked WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

According to a new report, several talents were unhappy with McAfee being folded into the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton program ahead of WrestleMania 42. The issue was not only the storyline turn itself, but also a feeling that Rhodes and Orton already had enough history to carry the match without another layer being added.

The report also said McAfee's remarks on SmackDown, which he has maintained were unscripted, added to that tension. It further noted that CM Punk was expected to hit certain points during his RAW response, but instead delivered a more emotional promo that reflected frustrations already bubbling backstage.

Quote from the report

"While we are told Rhodes didn't 'sell' the McAfee pivot to anyone, there was still a sense of sympathy for him having to 'carry that additional weight,' as one talent put it, heading into WrestleMania."

The report later added:

"We haven't heard of any immediate fallout from the segment, but we are told much of what Punk said reflects backstage frustrations that have been building among talent over the past several weeks."

"Several talents have voiced concerns about the high ticket prices and the number of unsold seats for the year's biggest show. They've also expressed frustration that, despite the many available seats, only two comp tickets are being provided to performers for the night they're working, with any additional tickets requiring purchase."

Cody Rhodes, Pat McAfee and the WrestleMania 42 build

Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton is already one of WWE's biggest WrestleMania 42 programs, so the report matters because it suggests McAfee's involvement became a real backstage talking point instead of a simple one-week plot twist. If that reaction is accurate, then the angle added pressure to an already high-stakes main event build centered on Rhodes and Orton.

CM Punk's RAW promo also appears to have touched a separate nerve. The report ties Punk's comments to wider concerns over WrestleMania 42 ticket prices, unsold seats and limited comp tickets, which means the conversation around the show is not just creative, but also business-related inside the locker room.

Sources

As reported by NoDQ.