Summary

Cody Rhodes says the outside noise around his WrestleMania 42 program is simply part of the deal when the stakes get this high.

While speaking on *Unsportsmanlike*, Rhodes was asked about Pat McAfee being inserted into the story with Randy Orton and about McAfee referencing TKO and ticket sales during his promo. Rhodes said he has to be comfortable with that kind of attention because WrestleMania season around him has repeatedly drawn in major outside figures.

The latest comments continue the same tension already surrounding the title match. Rhodes recently argued in another McAfee-related update that Orton's pursuit of a 15th world title should not need that kind of extra involvement.

Quote from Cody Rhodes

"I have to be comfortable with it. I don’t feel bad about pointing this out, but the first WrestleMania main event three years ago, there is involvement outside of me vs. Roman Reigns. The Final Boss [The Rock] enters the fray, and that becomes a situation. Last year, me vs. John Cena, outside involvement again. Travis Scott enters the fray, and that’s a whole other situation. It’s what I do. Being a Cody Rhodes fan at WrestleMania season is a choice and an experience. We’re gonna have people who want to drop in. It’s interesting."

Rhodes later went on to say:

"As far as the Unreal scenario and bringing things to life, I love Unreal, and it’s a challenge because it does give away a great deal and peels back the curtain. No real magician is wrestling is every going to really show you how he does his trick. If he shows you one trick, he’s keeping another hidden. Unreal challenges us to tell stories in a different way and take fans on a ride they feel is authentic and real. That’s beautiful. That’s when it’s at its best, when you can’t tell. I don’t want to tell. I’m good with the Unreal era of putting your ear to the ground, listening to the folks, but also keeping the narrative you want to tell intact and merging the visions."

What it means for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

Rhodes is framing McAfee's involvement as part of the chaos that now follows his WrestleMania main events, which keeps the focus on the title match even while more personalities keep entering the picture. That also reinforces how central Rhodes sees himself in WWE's biggest season, especially when the conversation shifts from storyline heat to business talk like ticket sales and the TKO umbrella.

With Orton set to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship and McAfee attached to the build, Rhodes' response makes it clear he is not treating the extra attention as a distraction. He is presenting it as the environment that comes with being at the center of WrestleMania.

Sources

Cody Rhodes while speaking on Unsportsmanlike