5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (3 April - Results & Review)
Pat McAfee just turned heel on Cody Rhodes, aligned with Randy Orton and bashed WWE.
Not many would've predicted that.
Pat McAfee made a shocking return on this week's SmackDown by kicking Cody Rhodes in the nuts, then aligning with Randy Orton as he bashed WWE's current product and made light of lower-than-expected WrestleMania ticket sales. It was certainly a choice, but creative continues to fail at one thing: Reading the room. That's been a hallmark of this Orton vs. Rhodes feud thus far.
Obviously, McAfee's punt and promo was the biggest talking point coming out of WWE's latest TV, but things are simmering away on the undercard too. The much-maligned Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley feud experienced somewhat of a reprieve on Friday night, there's lingering chat about a bold double turn between Sami Zayn and Trick Williams in the United States Title picture, and the MFTs are still playing pass the parcel with The Wyatt Sicks over their lantern.
Not every story is hitting, clearly. Most who tune into programming week after week already know that - the build towards WrestleMania 42 has been topsy turvy, and now TKO execs reportedly believe Pat is the one to pull the nose up on a WWE Title feud. Weirdly, he's also acting like a wise man Orton can lean on for advice. It's an odd dynamic already.
We're just a few weeks out from 'Mania and everything feels up in the air. Here's all the good and bad from a SmackDown that wasn't the best but can definitely be considered newsworthy. Right now, Triple H and WWE may take that as a win and move on.