No Restrictions On WWE Talent Publicly Taking Shots At Pat McAfee Angle

There is a reason why WWE wrestlers have been taking shots at Pat McAfee during interviews ahead of WrestleMania 42.

Fightful Select has reported that, based on what they have heard, there aren't any restrictions on WWE talents expressing their unhappiness in media about the Pat McAfee angle or the former NFL punter's recent comments.

This would explain Damian Priest taking shots at the Pat McAfee angle while speaking to Gabby LaSpisa, during which the former World Heavyweight Champion stated that "it sucks" and that it kind of p*ssed him off.

Cody Rhodes also expressed his dissatisfaction with McAfee being involved in his Undisputed WWE Title programme with Randy Orton during an appearance on Matt & Shane's Secret Podcast, with Rhodes saying he believes people in McAfee's orbit need to tell him "no" every now and then. Rhodes has primarily adopted a Mariah Carey "I don't know him" stance, however, taking inspiration from Carey's early-2000s feud with Jennifer Lopez.

Pat McAfee was controversially unveiled as Randy Orton's mystery caller on the April 3 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, with McAfee set to be in Orton's corner against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. There was plenty of unhappiness over McAfee's insertion into the programme both outside and within WWE, with it being revealed that McAfee returning to WWE was a decision by TKO CEO Ari Emanuel to boost WrestleMania ticket sales and increase synergy between WWE and ESPN.

McAfee's involvement has failed to boost WrestleMania ticket sales so far, though, and his announcement on the April 10 SmackDown of 25 per cent off WrestleMania Saturday tickets also flopped as more tickets over the weekend were sold for WrestleMania Sunday despite McAfee actively telling fans not to bother attending night two of WrestleMania.