Pat McAfee’s return to WWE television has added a new layer to the WrestleMania 42 build. However, not everyone is convinced it’s the right fit for the biggest stage. A former WWE star has now weighed in, raising questions about where celebrity involvement belongs.
McAfee resurfaced on the April 3 episode of SmackDown as Randy Orton’s mystery ally. He aligned himself against Cody Rhodes in a major storyline heading into WrestleMania.
The move immediately drew attention — not just for the reveal, but for what it could mean for the main event picture.
Baron Corbin questions celebrity involvement in WrestleMania picture after Pat McAfee return
Speaking with Denise Salcedo, Bishop Dyer — formerly known as Baron Corbin in WWE — shared a candid perspective on McAfee’s role.
While he acknowledged his respect for McAfee, he described him as a “weird anomaly,” someone who exists between celebrity and wrestler due to his experience and presence across multiple platforms.
Dyer made it clear that his concern isn’t personal — it’s about placement. He argued that WrestleMania’s main event should remain a pure one-on-one contest, comparing it to the Super Bowl, where only the top competitors take center stage. In his view, adding outside involvement risks taking focus away from the core story.
“I also think that the main event of Wrestlemania does not need a celebrity or outside involvement. I think the story should be between the two guys.”
He also pointed to the existing history between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. The former WWE star suggested that their mentor-student dynamic was strong enough to carry the narrative on its own. Instead of introducing a mystery reveal, he felt the storyline could have leaned further into that connection — keeping the spotlight where it belongs.
“I would have rather if you’re going to get Pat involved put him in, get him involved in something else you know not the main event of Wrestlemania.”
At the same time, Dyer didn’t dismiss McAfee’s value. He noted that if used differently, McAfee could still contribute in a meaningful way — just not necessarily in the main event scene. It’s less about keeping him out and more about keeping the main event in its purest form.
With WrestleMania 42 approaching, the debate reflects a familiar tension — spectacle versus simplicity. For now, McAfee is firmly in the mix, even if not everyone is ready to tag him into the spotlight.
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