Overview
- Stephen A. Smith said on ESPN’s First Take that WWE president Nick Khan approached him about a manager-style role and that he turned it down because he did not want to take physical bumps.
- Smith praised Pat McAfee’s work and said he admires classic heel managers, citing Bobby “The Brain” Heenan as the model for the kind of role he once considered.
- Pat McAfee, an ESPN and WWE personality, was revealed as the mystery caller in the Randy Orton–Cody Rhodes feud, tying him directly into the WrestleMania build.
- Fan reaction to McAfee’s insertion has been intense, with reporting noting open criticism from some viewers and wrestlers over the creative direction.
- Awful Announcing noted that many ESPN viewers already dislike WWE crossovers, underscoring the limits of further on-air synergy even as WWE pursues celebrity integrations.