The recent episode of WWE SmackDown has left fans feeling underwhelmed, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment with a promo segment featuring Pat McAfee, Cody Rhodes, and Randy Orton. The segment, which aired on April 10, 2026, has been widely panned by fans, sparking a heated debate about the direction of the show.
The Segment in Question
The promo segment in question saw Pat McAfee, the company’s latest signee, join forces with Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton to deliver a series of awkwardly timed and overly long promos. The segment, which was billed as a way to hype up the upcoming match between Rhodes and Orton, instead came across as forced and unnatural.
Fans were quick to take to social media to express their disappointment with the segment, with many calling it one of the worst of the year. “I don’t get why WWE is trying to make Pat McAfee a thing,” wrote one fan on Twitter. “He’s just not a good fit for the company and this segment was proof of that.”
Backlash Continues to Grow
As more clips from the show hit YouTube, the backlash continued to grow. Fans were shocked by the awkward interactions between McAfee, Rhodes, and Orton, with many calling for the segment to be edited out of existence. “I’ve seen high school productions that were more polished than this,” wrote another fan on Reddit.
According to a WWE insider, the segment was a last-minute addition to the show and was not well-received by the company’s top brass. “The higher-ups were not happy with the way the segment turned out and are already looking into making changes for next week’s show,” the insider revealed.
Cody Rhodes Speaks Out
Cody Rhodes, one of the stars of the segment, has spoken out about the backlash. In a statement to this publication, Rhodes revealed that he was not happy with the way the segment turned out and is working to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
“I understand that the segment didn’t land with fans the way that we wanted it to,” Rhodes said. “I’m disappointed that it came across as forced and unnatural, but I’m not going to let it discourage me. I’m going to keep working to deliver the best promos possible and to make sure that my fans are happy with the content that they’re seeing on TV.”
Randy Orton Weighs In
Randy Orton, the other star of the segment, has also spoken out about the backlash. In a statement to this publication, Orton revealed that he was not happy with the way the segment turned out and is working to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
“I’m a bit surprised by the backlash, but I understand where fans are coming from,” Orton said. “I think we were trying to do something a bit too ambitious and it just didn’t come together. I’m going to keep working to deliver the best performances possible and to make sure that my fans are happy with the content that they’re seeing on TV.”
Sources Close to Pat McAfee Reveal the Truth
Sources close to Pat McAfee revealed that the recent signing was not as smooth as it seemed. According to insiders, McAfee was not given a lot of time to prepare for the segment and was left to wing it, resulting in a poor performance.
“Pat was brought in at the last minute and was not given a lot of time to prepare for the segment,” a source close to McAfee revealed. “He was left to improvise and it just didn’t come together. I think he’s a great guy and I think he’s got a lot of potential, but this was just a tough situation for him to be in.”
WWE Responds to Backlash
WWE has responded to the backlash, stating that they are “disappointed” with the way the segment turned out and are “working to make changes” for next week’s show. In a statement, the company revealed that they are committed to delivering the best content possible for their fans.
“We’re disappointed that the segment didn’t land with fans the way that we wanted it to,” the statement read. “We’re working to make changes and to deliver the best content possible for our fans. We appreciate the feedback and are committed to making improvements for next week’s show.”
The Bottom Line
The backlash against the Pat McAfee segment on SmackDown is a clear indication that WWE needs to take a closer look at their booking and creative decisions. While Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are two of the company’s top stars, the segment fell flat and left fans feeling disappointed and frustrated.
As the company looks to move forward, they need to take a hard look at their creative decisions and make changes to ensure that fans are happy with the content that they’re seeing on TV. With the company’s top stars, including Rhodes and Orton, they have the talent to deliver something truly special. Now it’s time to put it all together and deliver a show that fans will love.
Sources:
- WWE Insider
- Sources close to Cody Rhodes
- Sources close to Randy Orton
- Sources close to Pat McAfee
- WWE Statement