REVEALED: Why WWE Talents Are Frustrated Over Pat McAfee's Inclusion In Cody Rhodes Vs. Randy Orton WrestleMania 42 Feud

Pat McAfee's reveal as Randy Orton's mystery caller on the April 3 episode of Friday Night SmackDown was the subject of an immediate backlash from WWE fans, and it has been revealed wrestlers within the company were not exactly thrilled about the storyline development either.

According to PWInsider, there were talents within WWE who have thrown their hands up over the past week over Pat McAfee being inserted into the WrestleMania 42 feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. Their frustration stems from McAfee's inclusion not making storyline sense and the feeling that a high-profile match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, due to their history, didn't need an extra element.

It was noted that Cody Rhodes didn't "sell" the Pat McAfee pivot to anyone but there was sympathy for the Undisputed WWE Champion over him having to now "carry that additional weight" leading into WrestleMania 42. McAfee's promo after he was unveiled as Orton's mystery caller didn't help with how Pat is perceived in the locker room either.

Previous reports have noted that McAfee joining the WWE Title programme received a mixed response, while one person within the company considered it to be the "single most counterproductive thing the company has done in a long time."

McAfee's insertion into the WrestleMania 42 night one main event was said to be a decision by TKO CEO Ari Emanuel as an attempt to boost WrestleMania ticket sales and increase synergy between WWE and ESPN. McAfee actually originally turned down the mystery caller angle before he ultimately agreed to it.