Summary

Ryback weighed in on the latest Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes and Pat McAfee storyline after the April 3 episode of WWE SmackDown, arguing that fans should wait for the full payoff before judging the direction.

The reaction came after McAfee was revealed as Orton's mystery phone caller and attacked Rhodes as the WrestleMania 42 program continued to escalate. That reveal quickly became one of the biggest talking points coming out of the show, especially with McAfee later tying his WWE TV future to Orton's WrestleMania 42 result.

Social media reaction

In a post on X, Ryback said the angle should be allowed to develop before fans decide whether it works. He framed the segment as part of a larger story arc, not something that needed to peak two weeks before WrestleMania.

Ryback also pointed to McAfee's mainstream reach, saying his platform can bring more casual attention to WWE and to the story involving Orton and Rhodes.

What the Orton and McAfee reveal changes before WrestleMania 42

Randy Orton's alliance with Pat McAfee gives the feud with Cody Rhodes another layer just before WrestleMania 42, because the story is now moving beyond a standard personal issue and into a wider WWE spotlight. McAfee's involvement adds a crossover name to Orton's side, which raises the visibility of every follow-up segment tied to Rhodes.

It also means WWE is still presenting the reveal as a major part of Orton's road to WrestleMania, not as a one-night twist. With the mystery caller now identified and McAfee physically involved, the company has more than one path to keep the Rhodes-Orton rivalry hot on television before the event.

Sources

As reported by NoDQ.