WWE Replacement For Pat McAfee

On the April 3 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Pat McAfee made his return to the company and revealed himself as Randy Orton’s mystery caller.

Joining Orton in a beatdown on Cody Rhodes and making disparaging remarks about the current state of WWE, McAfee has received a largely negative response from the fans ever since.

With many fans questioning this decision, WWE could potentially decide to pivot and replace McAfee with someone else playing the role as an ally to “The Viper” with just over a week remaining before WrestleMania 42.

Here are seven potential WWE replacements for Pat McAfee.

7. Aleister Black

Before Randy Orton turned heel, Aleister Black was seen trying to manipulate “The Legend Killer” to embrace who he really is.

After betraying Cody Rhodes with a brutal and bloody beatdown, Orton stated that his mystery caller made him realize exactly who he is: “a killer.”

In a lot of ways, Black did that same thing for Orton on WWE television before those phone calls from Pat McAfee took place.

Black taking McAfee’s place would make a ton of sense with everything he has said that has influenced the recent character turn for Orton.

6. Jelly Roll

When Randy Orton turned heel on Cody Rhodes, it was Jelly Roll, who tried to step in and convince his friend from doing what he was doing.

The country music star then tried to convince Orton to make things right and apologize to Rhodes as well as Matt Cardona.

However, Orton injured Cardona and then proceeded to lay out Jelly with an RKO during his recent pull-apart brawl with Rhodes on the March 27 episode of SmackDown.

While he might be upset with his former friend after this attack, Jelly could choose to join forces with Orton in Pat McAfee’s place to help him win at WrestleMania 42.

5. Ted DiBiase Jr.

Randy Orton became a mentor to Cody Rhodes during his formative years in WWE in the group known as Legacy.

Alongside Orton and Rhodes, Ted DiBiase Jr. was the third member and rose to prominence with his fellow second and third generation talents.

Recently, DiBiase Jr. was acquitted of all his charges in regards to a welfare fraud scandal.

With the former WWE star now being free to return, DiBiase Jr. could be revealed as the man who Orton is really working with to get revenge on their former Legacy stablemate at WrestleMania 42.

4. Kevin Owens

Another individual who has fought alongside Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton in the past is Kevin Owens.

It was Owens and Orton who joined forces with Rhodes during his rivalry with Solo Sikoa and The New Bloodline in 2024.

After Cody chose to team with Roman Reigns against The New Bloodline at WWE Bad Blood 2024, Owens turned his back on Rhodes and Orton to kickstart a rivalry with his former friends.

Now seeing the light and how Rhodes was the real villain, it could be revealed that Orton and Owens reconciled to come together and destroy Rhodes as allies.

3. Shane McMahon

On the March 30 edition of WWE Raw, Stephanie McMahon made her return to the company to confront Cody Rhodes.

Trying to help Rhodes find a side of himself that can overcome this diabolical version of Randy Orton, Stephanie tried to talk some sense into “The American Nightmare” ahead of his showdown with “The Legend Killer” at WrestleMania 42.

This led some fans to believe Stephanie’s involvement could be teasing another McMahon being revealed as the mystery caller for Orton.

Shane McMahon making his return to WWE would make sense for him to align with Orton to try to take down Rhodes and become a 15-time world champion at “The Showcase of the Immortals.”

2. Batista

Another former WWE star who would be a logical option to be the mystery caller and supporter of Randy Orton is Batista.

With their history together as part of Evolution, Batista is someone who has known Orton for over the past two decades.

Taking the place of Pat McAfee, Batista would fit the bill as someone with a great deal of star power and celebrity name recognition to help Randy Orton.

Batista making his return would draw plenty of attention to WrestleMania 42 and could help Orton capture the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes.

1. The Rock

When the entire storyline of Randy Orton’s mystery caller began, many fans believed that it would eventually be revealed to be The Rock.

Over the past few years, The Rock has made his return to WWE during WrestleMania season to help increase eyes on “The Show of Shows.”

“The Final Boss” yet again making his return would be beneficial in WWE drawing interest in the WrestleMania 42 premium live event.

Randy Orton joining forces with The Rock instead of Pat McAfee might work even better than the current story that is playing out on WWE TV ahead of Mania.

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