Not many people have divided the WWE Universe lately like the way Pat McAfee did on the April 3, 2026, episode of SmackDown. Now, he has promised a “massive surprise” for the April 10 episode of SmackDown in San Jose.
McAfee returned in quite a controversial way. He aligned himself with Randy Orton and revealed he was Orton’s mystery caller. Things escalated when he attacked Cody Rhodes and put himself right in the middle of their feud heading into WrestleMania 42.
McAfee also cut a promo that felt very real and unscripted. He criticized modern wrestling and praised the Viper as someone who can bring WWE back to its best.
Fan reactions have been mixed so far. Some enjoy the unpredictability he brought, while others feel he takes away from the already strong story between Orton and Rhodes. Even CM Punk took a shot at McAfee in a recent promo.
Pat McAfee hints at a major announcement ahead of WWE SmackDown
Pat McAfee recently shared his thoughts in a long post on X, hyping his upcoming WrestleMania match as a huge moment for the business. McAfee also believes that he and Orton are going to “save the business” for future generations.
“My daughter and baby boy on the way are gonna have a WWE that is thriving.. a WWE that is the greatest form of entertainment on Earth, bar none, because the top of the company is gonna be exactly what it’s supposed to be,” McAfee wrote.
But what really caught attention was his tease of a “massive surprise” for SmackDown. He didn’t give details, but it sounds like something monumental could happen that might change the Orton vs. Rhodes story.
“See also… I have a MASSIVE SURPRISE to announce tomorrow night. You’ll start thanking me and Randy soon enough for all of this. SEE YOU IN SAN JOSE,” McAfee added.
Behind the scenes, reports suggest McAfee’s return may not be just a creative decision. TKO Group Holdings might have greenlit the decision to bring in more mainstream attention. However, McAfee doesn’t seem bothered by the criticism.
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