WWE: Who was the mystery caller, declaring he will “Save Wrestling”

Friday Night SmackDown delivered a shocking twist on April 3, 2026, as Pat McAfee revealed himself as the mysterious voice behind the recent calls to Randy Orton. McAfee declared that he and Orton would “save professional wrestling,” taking aim at anyone standing in their path, including Cody Rhodes. His explosive promo took shots at streaming platforms, low ticket sales for WrestleMania, and rival promotions, positioning himself and Orton as the champions who could restore excitement to WWE.

Orton opened the show expressing his love for St. Louis and his drive to leave Las Vegas with the WWE Undisputed Championship, while Rhodes confronted him in a tense faceoff. The situation escalated when McAfee struck Rhodes with a low blow and insulted the crowd, claiming the industry had passed him by and that Orton was the hero fans had been waiting for.

In-Ring Action Highlights

SmackDown’s card featured multiple exciting matches. Rhea Ripley submitted Michin to secure a victory, while Uncle Howdy pinned Tama Tonga and Aleister Black defeated Matt Cardona. In tag team action, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair defeated Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Damian Priest and R-Truth retained the WWE Tag Team Championships against The Miz and Kit Wilson, aided by Danhausen’s well-timed interference. Sami Zayn successfully defended the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes, setting the stage for his ongoing feud with Trick Williams and Lil Yachty, who joined the show to hype up the WrestleMania build.

The matches combined high-stakes drama with story progression, especially in the Tag Team and US Championship bouts, keeping fans engaged for the road to WrestleMania 42.

Cody Rhodes Faces Pressure, Fans See a Darker Side

Despite the chaos caused by McAfee and Orton, Cody Rhodes delivered a passionate promo reflecting on his WrestleMania journey. He acknowledged the crowd’s desire to see him tap into a darker, more ruthless persona while addressing the attacks against him. Rhodes compared McAfee’s interference to classic wrestling moments like Disco Inferno joining the nWo, highlighting the blurred lines between celebrity involvement and in-ring storytelling.

While a full heel turn seems unlikely for Rhodes, this week’s SmackDown suggested he may embrace a more morally complex version of The American Nightmare. McAfee’s shocking reveal has added fuel to the rivalry, leaving fans wondering how far Rhodes is willing to go and whether Orton and McAfee’s “plan to save wrestling” will succeed.