Pat McAfee has explained his decision to align with Randy Orton following his surprise SmackDown reveal, saying his motivations come down to making pro wrestling what it used to be.
Speaking on his show following the SmackDown appearance, McAfee connected the dots between a previous conversation he had with Orton and the months of behind-the-scenes communication that led to his dramatic return.
“It was a fun time on Friday night, letting the world know that yeah, remember when Randy Orton came on the show at the Combine, and shortly after that, I said that I thought the business passed me by?” McAfee said. “All of a sudden, Randy is on the phone with someone motivating him, dominating everybody. Oh yeah, maybe it was me telling him, my daughter is about to turn three years old. I would like her to be a wrestling fan, but I would like wrestling to be what wrestling is supposed to be, especially at the top of the card.”
McAfee made clear that, in his view, Orton represents everything the business should be built around and that his frustration extends to anything on the card that does not involve The Viper.
“6’5, 275 pounds of perfection from the wrestling Gods has been sitting here this whole time,” McAfee said. “Is it on TV all day, every day? Absolutely not. He was actually sent home for six months recently. How is this guy being sent home? We’re saving the business when Randy wins his 15th title at Mania, and the future of the business is going to be led by what the wrestling Gods deem perfection. Anything that doesn’t involve Randy, in my eyes, (is) shit.”
McAfee closed with a prediction for how this moment will eventually be viewed in wrestling history. “If Randy Orton is involved, good. Just know, we got some things cooking. Future wrestling fans are going to look back on the night in Vegas and say, ‘That was the moment that that GOAT saved the entire business.’ Thank you, Randy.”
McAfee has also stated publicly that if Orton fails to win the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, he will never return to wrestling television. Rhodes defends the title against Orton in the Night 1 main event of WrestleMania 42 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Pat McAfee’s show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
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