Add as a preferred source on Google Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in the main event of Night One of WrestleMania 42 on Saturday, April 18, retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship. The result, far beyond Rhodes keeping the title, led to Pat McAfee’s permanent departure from the company.
Soon after returning to WWE during the Road to WrestleMania, McAfee said that if Orton didn’t beat Rhodes, he would walk away from his pro-wrestling career in every sense.
Even before the Showcase of Immortals took place, rumors indicated that WWE had plans for a tag team match between McAfee and Orton against Rhodes and Jelly Roll for Backlash, the company’s next premium live event. However, with McAfee’s exit, those plans are no longer viable.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the outcome of the Rhodes vs. Orton bout may have been decided because McAfee backed out of continuing with WWE. Apparently, criticism of his TV appearances weighed heavily on his decision.
“Regarding Pat McAfee, he decided not to participate. That’s what really led to all the changes. That’s why the Backlash tag match was canceled. He decided not to participate. That’s what really caused the change. That’s why the Backlash tag match was canceled.
The thing is, both of them (Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll) were very aware of what was being said about celebrities in wrestling. They both love wrestling and I think they realized there was a lot of negative sentiment about it. I don’t know the exact reason for McAfee backing out. It could have been many different things, but what was believed was, in fact, the reaction. I was told the belief was that he quit because of the backlash. It wasn’t anything like what happened before.”