WWE Reportedly Reworking SmackDown Plans After Negative Reaction To Pat McAfee Involvement in Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Storyline

As noted before, this past Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in St. Louis, Missouri featured Pat McAfee making a surprise return to WWE and turning heel on Cody Rhodes. McAfee’s surprise return and involvement in the Randy Orton and Rhodes’ storyline feud for the Undisputed WWE Championship was later revealed to have been an edict that came from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel. McAfee’s involvement was also believed to have been done to boost interest in the show and also for “corporate synergy” between WWE and ESPN. McAfee’s appearance and promo generated a lot of negative online reaction from fans and also from within WWE over their issues with TKO getting involved again in storylines for WrestleMania for multiple years in a row.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials have reworked some of their plans for SmackDown following the negative reaction to the McAfee, Rhodes, and Orton storyline.

It was reported that additional outside involvement are being considered for the storyline feud with Jelly Roll being among the names discussed.

Those spoken to stated that WWE officials have gone back to the drawing board to assess any possibilities regarding the storyline going forward.

Fightful reported that their sources stated that CM Punk’s comments during his promo segment at this past Monday’s WWE RAW show were an indicator of the shift in creative direction. It was reported that WWE’s plans became fluid throughout the week. Punk’s comments directed at McAfee were not part of WWE’s original plans for the storyline angle as of this past Friday.