WWE Friday Night SmackDown delivered one of its biggest storyline developments on April 3, 2026, as Randy Orton’s mysterious phone accomplice was finally revealed. During the show in St. Louis, Missouri, Pat McAfee appeared and shocked fans by aligning himself with Orton.
The reveal took place in Orton’s hometown at the Enterprise Center, where WWE had been teasing the identity of the mystery caller for several weeks. The moment instantly added new intensity to Orton’s upcoming WrestleMania 42 match against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
SmackDown Event Overview
The April 3 episode of WWE SmackDown featured several major appearances and storyline developments leading into WrestleMania 42. Along with the reveal of Orton’s ally, the show included appearances by Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill.
| Event | WWE Friday Night SmackDown |
|---|---|
| Date | April 3, 2026 |
| Venue | Enterprise Center |
| City | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Main Storyline | Randy Orton’s mystery caller revealed |
| Key Superstar | Pat McAfee |
Pat McAfee Revealed as Randy Orton’s Ally
The biggest moment of the night came when Pat McAfee appeared and was revealed as the mysterious voice that had been advising Randy Orton in recent weeks.
— Watch WWE SmackDown on USA Network (@ERClipssss) April 4, 2026
McAfee shocked the audience by turning heel and helping Orton attack Cody Rhodes during the segment. After the reveal, McAfee delivered a fiery promo criticizing the current direction of WWE and declaring his support for Orton.
Triple H is officially the worst booker of all time.
— Tribal Wrestling (@TribalMegastar) April 4, 2026
Why has Pat McAfee just turned heel and joined Randy Orton…
THIS IS HILARIOUS BRO 💀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/1eurFsgqIF
Pat McAfee: "Cody Rhodes, I'm the one talking to Randy Orton telling him he has to kill everything, because the business you're running is terrible, it's disgusting. He's going to save the fucking business"
— LA Knight empire (@LAKnightempire) April 4, 2026
🤯🤯🤯#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/jJsz4fjgLX
During the promo, McAfee said he had been the person encouraging Orton to dominate the roster and take control ahead of WrestleMania.
| Segment | Key Moment |
|---|---|
| Mystery Caller Reveal | Pat McAfee revealed |
| Alignment | McAfee joins Randy Orton |
| Attack | Cody Rhodes attacked |
| Promo | McAfee criticizes WWE direction |
The alliance instantly reshaped the rivalry between Orton and Rhodes, adding a new storyline element just weeks before WrestleMania.
Weeks of Mystery Leading to the Reveal
The mystery storyline began on the March 20 episode of SmackDown when Orton was seen speaking with someone on his phone. Over the following weeks, WWE continued teasing the identity of the caller.
PAT MCAFEE HAS JOINED FORCES WITH RANDY ORTON
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) April 4, 2026
THEY ARE TAKING OUT CODY RHODES
WTFFFF IS HAPPENING
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOO#Smackdown pic.twitter.com/wZHFAsUq21
RANDY ORTON WITH ANOTHER POWERFUL PROMO MAN
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) April 4, 2026
THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY CHILLING #Smackdown pic.twitter.com/dt1UUErHcW
Fans speculated about several possible names, including Orton’s father Cowboy Bob Orton. During one segment, a close-up of an old photograph of Bob Orton Sr. and Bob Orton Jr. further fueled speculation.
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| March 20 SmackDown | Orton first shown speaking to mystery caller |
| Following weeks | Multiple phone call segments |
| Final tease | Reference to St. Louis reveal |
| April 3 SmackDown | Pat McAfee revealed |
The final reveal confirmed that McAfee had been the person guiding Orton through his recent heel transformation.
WrestleMania 42 Rivalry Intensifies
The reveal directly impacts the upcoming WrestleMania 42 main event between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. The rivalry has grown more intense in recent weeks, with Rhodes returning after a previous attack from Orton.
Now with McAfee supporting Orton, the championship feud has gained another storyline twist heading into WWE’s biggest event of the year.
| WrestleMania Match | Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes |
|---|---|
| Event | WrestleMania 42 |
| Night | Night 1 Main Event |
| Title | Undisputed WWE Championship |
Orton is currently considered a strong contender to capture the championship, which could mark the 15th world title of his career.
Other SmackDown Segments and Appearances
The show also featured several other WWE superstars who appeared ahead of major WrestleMania storylines.
Cody Rhodes returned to confront Orton, continuing their heated rivalry. Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu also appeared as anticipation builds for their upcoming unsanctioned match at WrestleMania.
Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley was featured following a recent attack involving Jade Cargill, B-Fab and Michin, leaving fans wondering how Ripley will respond in the coming weeks.
| Featured Superstars | Segment |
|---|---|
| Cody Rhodes | Confrontation with Randy Orton |
| Drew McIntyre | WrestleMania buildup |
| Jacob Fatu | Upcoming unsanctioned match |
| Rhea Ripley | Storyline following recent attack |
| Jade Cargill | Featured appearance |
Major Twist Before WrestleMania
The reveal of Pat McAfee as Randy Orton’s secret ally added a major twist to SmackDown and dramatically raised the stakes for WrestleMania 42.
With tensions rising between Orton and Cody Rhodes, and McAfee now involved in the storyline, WWE has created a new layer of drama heading into one of the biggest matches of the year.
Add as a preferred source on Google
