Overview
- McAfee, returning to TV on Friday’s SmackDown in San Jose, announced a 25% discount on WrestleMania Saturday tickets, traded barbs with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, then teamed with Randy Orton to drop Rhodes and leave with his championship belt.
- WWE showed McAfee arguing with country star Jelly Roll backstage, and Jelly Roll was later found downed by Orton before the in-ring attack on Rhodes.
- WrestleVotes via Fightful reports WWE has been reworking SmackDown plans in real time after heavy fan backlash to McAfee’s insertion into the WrestleMania main event story.
- Multiple reports from Wrestling Observer say TKO leader Ari Emanuel pushed McAfee into the feud and that McAfee’s on-air lines about ticket sales and ratings did not come from Triple H’s writing team.
- Wrestling Observer also reports plans for a Backlash tag match of Orton and McAfee vs. Rhodes and Jelly Roll, and locker-room frustration has surfaced publicly with Damian Priest saying many talent were unhappy with the direction.