CM Punk Criticizes Pat McAfee’s Role Ahead of WrestleMania 42

Posted by admin on April 15th, 2026

CM Punk has addressed Pat McAfee’s growing presence in WWE storylines, making it clear he does not agree with how McAfee has handled his role heading into WrestleMania 42.

Speaking with Matt Barnes on All The Smoke, Punk drew a firm line between generating attention and driving actual business. He suggested that McAfee, while effective in media, has overstepped within the wrestling environment.

“Wrestling has always, sometimes to a fault, embraced people that we believe can get eyeballs on a product. Eyeballs on a product and people actually investing and buying tickets are two wildly different things. Pat was a wrestling fan who became famous outside of the bubble and was afforded an opportunity to be invited in. Somewhere along the line, he forgot that he was a tourist. To me, that can easily be rescinded. Pat is great at what he does. Pat is not great at what we do. Cody is going to handle it. Poor Cody has to deal with this guy. When he disrespects the business and he says something out of pocket, he’s going to get checked and he’s going to get checked by me. You can’t be running your mouth about ticket sales when you’ve never sold a ticket in your life. I would prefer to not have to deal with Pat, but we’ll see what happens. I don’t think Pat realizes the dangerous things he’s doing,” Punk said.

McAfee was inserted into the WrestleMania 42 main event storyline on the April 3 episode of SmackDown. During that segment, he attacked Cody Rhodes and was revealed as the mystery caller aligned with Randy Orton. His follow-up promo focused on WrestleMania ticket sales, placing blame on Rhodes.

Punk responded on the following RAW, where he pushed back on McAfee’s comments and called for WWE to lower ticket prices. As previously reported, Punk’s remarks during that segment were not part of the original plan.

As noted, there are currently no restrictions on WWE talent regarding comments about McAfee or his involvement in ongoing storylines. This has allowed performers like Punk to speak openly about the situation both on television and in outside interviews.

Punk is set to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns in the Night 2 main event of WrestleMania 42 on April 19. Meanwhile, McAfee is scheduled to be in Orton’s corner when Orton challenges Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in the Night 1 main event on April 18.

With tensions continuing to build, the situation involving McAfee remains a key talking point heading into WWE’s biggest event of the year.