Summary

Matt Striker believes WWE's decision to pair Pat McAfee with Randy Orton fits a larger push toward mainstream crossover, even if the reveal drew a mixed reaction from fans.

McAfee was revealed as the person on the phone with Orton during the April 3 episode of SmackDown, a development that immediately added another layer to Orton's issue with Cody Rhodes. The fallout from that segment has stayed in the conversation ever since, including McAfee's own response to the backlash.

Matt Striker ties Pat McAfee and Randy Orton to WWE's broader play

Speaking with MuscleManMalcolm, Striker said he understands why WWE would lean into a figure like McAfee when the company is trying to reach beyond its traditional wrestling audience.

His comments framed the Orton and McAfee pairing less as a one-off surprise and more as part of a business strategy built around visibility, celebrity connections and broader media reach.

Quote from Matt Striker

"It was nasty work. I understand the business. I understand the relationship with ESPN. I understand the relationship with mainstream media, and that's, you know, that's where WWE's bottom line is always going to be. So I know that people have mixed opinions. But at the end of the day, WWE has to pay their bills, and they are going to go with what they think is mainstream, what they- Jelly Roll, Pat McAfee, Lil Yachty, whatever it might be. That crossover to mainstream appeal is what WWE is after."

What Matt Striker's read means for WWE

Striker's point puts Pat McAfee's role beside Randy Orton in a wider WWE pattern, not just a controversial SmackDown twist. If WWE sees celebrity-adjacent names as a way to widen the audience, then fan backlash alone may not be enough to change course on this story.

It also helps explain why the company appears willing to keep McAfee close to a top program involving Orton and Cody Rhodes. Whether fans embrace it or not, WWE may view the attention around the angle as proof that the crossover approach is doing exactly what it was meant to do.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.