Summary

Cody Rhodes took another shot at Pat McAfee while discussing the build to his WrestleMania 42 match with Randy Orton.

During an interview with Rich Eisen, Rhodes said the sight of McAfee holding the WWE Championship while standing next to Orton was more aggravating to him than several infamous wrestling images fans still talk about years later.

The comment is the latest sign that McAfee's involvement has become a real part of the WrestleMania story, especially after McAfee unloaded on Rhodes before Randy Orton's latest SmackDown attack.

Quote from Cody Rhodes

"The most offensive image probably in wrestling history, and there's been a few along the way. This is not a knock on any of these guys, the Gobbly Gooker when they did that. David Arquette winning the world championship always upset fans. I think the most offensive image in wrestling history is probably Pat McAfee holding up the WWE Championship while standing next to Randy Orton, the actual guy that I'm wrestling at WrestleMania. It's even worse because he's over there in the Thunderdome and it's just sitting there."

What it means for Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton

Rhodes mentioning McAfee alongside Randy Orton keeps the focus on the extra layer around the WWE Championship match, not just the one-on-one history between the two wrestlers. If that stays part of the presentation through WrestleMania 42, McAfee's presence could remain a key distraction around Rhodes even before the bell rings.

It also shows WWE is letting Rhodes frame McAfee as more than a celebrity cameo. At this point in the build, McAfee is being treated as part of the problem Rhodes believes he has to deal with on the way to Orton.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.