A familiar voice from WWE’s biggest stage has stepped back into the spotlight — this time not for a match, but to address growing fan backlash ahead of WrestleMania 42. As the road to the event heats up, the conversation around celebrity involvement has become impossible to ignore.
The Miz, a former WrestleMania main eventer, didn’t mince words while speaking to Us Weekly on April 16.
With Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll playing major roles in the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton storyline, fan reactions have been split. In some corners, sharply critical.
The Miz defends celebrity involvement ahead of WrestleMania 42
According to The Miz, the outrage might be missing the bigger picture. He argued that celebrity appearances aren’t a distraction — they’re a doorway.
“A lot of people will get upset about celebrities coming into WWE. I want celebrities to come in… a new crop of people who might not watch WWE… I guarantee we will make them a fan,” he said.
His stance frames WrestleMania season as less about keeping things traditional and more about making noise. In true A-Lister fashion, he leaned into that idea. “Isn’t WrestleMania season the time to make the most noise?” Miz added. “And who makes the most noise? … Pat McAfee and his big mouth.”
That noise, however, has divided fans. McAfee and Jelly Roll have been heavily involved in the Undisputed WWE Championship feud between Rhodes and Orton. Several viewers argued that the added star power has blurred the focus of a marquee rivalry.
Still, The Miz suggested the bigger picture matters more than short-term criticism. He pointed to WWE’s ability to convert casual viewers into long-term fans. He noted, “No one does what we do better than us. We are the best at entertainment.”
He also weighed in on the personalities involved, backing both sides of the main event equation. “I believe that person is going to be Cody Rhodes,” Miz said, before praising Orton as “a GOAT” and someone who helped shape his own career.
With WrestleMania 42 approaching, the debate continues. And if nothing else, the conversation proves one thing: the road to WrestleMania is never short on headlines, even if some fans feel the build has gone a little “over the top rope.”
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