WWE SmackDown Notes: Pat McAfee Surprise Returns & Turns Heel on Cody Rhodes & Reveals He Was Randy Orton’s Mystery Caller, Uncle Howdy Reclaims Bray Wyatt’s Lantern From The MFTs, WWE Confirms Nikki Bella Ankle Injury

WWE
Apr 3, 2026

Pat McAfee Makes Surprise Return, Turns Heel on Cody Rhodes, & Reveals He Was Randy Orton’s Mystery Caller

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri featured Pat McAfee making a surprise return appearance and turning heel on Cody Rhodes.

During the show, Randy Orton came out to the ring and talked about his upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 and him claiming he will win his 15th World title. After some more words about how Cody gave him his blessing to be the Viper and he can listen to the voices, Orton stated that he saw the voices talking to Cody as well and how the voices in Cody’s head are telling him the same thing that he can not beat him.

This led to Rhodes’ music playing to interrupt and came out to the ring. This then led to a brawl breaking out between the two that was ended after Pat McAfee came out from the crowd and hit Rhodes with a low blow kick laying him out.

Orton grabbed a chair and a microphone and handed the microphone to McAfee. Orton then proceeded to strike Rhodes with the chair as McAfee ran down St. Louis sports teams. This led to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis and WWE officials rushing out to the ringside area as McAfee continued talking about a month ago, he was asked when he was going to return and he said he thought that the business passed him by. McAfee then proceeded to trash WWE and wrestling stating that he couldn’t watch it since he thought it was absolute shit.

Orton gave Rhodes another whack with the chair as McAfee continued on revealing that he was the mystery person Orton was calling on his phone. McAfee stated that Orton told him that the business didn’t pass him by, it just went in a direction they didn’t like. McAfee continued talking about the Attitude Era fan and his praise of them that put this company on their backs to launch it into a multi billion universe, they have been forgotten about. McAfee continued stating that when he turns on WWE TV now, he has to see two five foot five wrestlers do a 45 minute iron man match for five weeks straight when Randy Orton is around and why does he turn on Netflix and he sees all of gorilla “bleeping” themselves when Randy Orton is around.

McAfee continued on with his rant bashing the current WWE product and Rhodes being a puppet Champion and a man that represents everything they hate. McAfee stated he is the one on the phone telling Orton that he has to kill everything because the business that Cody is leading is terrible and Orton will save the f***ing business. Orton then proceeded to choke out Rhodes and placed the Undisputed WWE on his body. Orton then whispered something into Rhodes ear before leaving with McAfee and made their way back through the gorilla position backstage.

Uncle Howdy Reclaims Bray Wyatt’s Lantern From The MFTs

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Uncle Howdy reclaiming possession of Bray Wyatt’s lantern.

During tonight’s show, Tama Tonga had a heated argument with Solo Sikoa backstage with the rest of the MFTs watching. This argument revolved around Sikoa stating that Howdy had challenged him to a match for the lantern and Tonga asked Sikoa why they are fighting for the lantern since it has been nothing but problems for all of them. Sikoa responded telling Tonga to go out and fight for the lantern. Tonga responded back stating he will handle Howdy but he is going out there alone. Sikoa responded back telling Tonga that before he does, he better not mess it up.

Following Howdy’s victory over Tonga after an accidental distraction by Sikoa, Sikoa was hesitant to return the lantern initially before Tonga snatched it away from Sikoa and placed it on the apron. Howdy then grabbed the apron and getting back his prized family lantern.

In a follow-up segment, an upset Sikoa asked Tonga why he gave back the lantern which Tonga responded back stating that he had since it was tearing them apart. Tonga continued stating to get back to the real business, taking over SmackDown and taking all the titles. Sikoa responded back telling Tonga he is right and once they finish the Wyatts, they will get back to business.

Nikki Bella Ankle Injury Confirmed

As noted before, Nikki Bella suffered an ankle injury at last week’s WWE SmackDown show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

During tonight’s show, SmackDown commentator Joe Tessitore provided an update confirming that Bella had suffered an ankle-related injury and she is currently out of action rehabbing her injury.

A video still was shown revealing the exact moment that Bella had suffered the injury.

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