Pat McAfee says he has a major announcement planned for this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, adding more intrigue to an already loaded show in San Jose.

McAfee took to social media on Thursday to hype his appearance, while also praising Randy Orton and teasing what’s to come. His message strongly hinted at significant developments tied to Orton’s future and the broader direction of WWE.

“Randy Orton is gonna save the business for future generations of wrestling fans. That’s so incredible to think about.. Very rarely do these types of obviously monumental moments happen in our lifetime.

My daughter and baby boy on the way are gonna have a WWE that is thriving.. a WWE that is the greatest form of entertainment on Earth, bar none, because the top of the company is gonna be exactly what it’s supposed to be.

A man sent DIRECTLY from the Wrestling AND Sports Entertainment Gods will be properly leading the business once again.

It is my honor to serve the future generations of wrestling fans as I motivate The 🐐, Randy Orton to not only become 15 TIME WORLD CHAMPION but also, become a man who saved his family’s business.

WrestleMania Saturday Night is gonna be The most Historic Night in the HISTORY of sports.. SO MUCH ON THE LINE. Multi-Generational pressure comes to a head. Randy will prevail… for all of us 🙏🏻

See also… I have a MASSIVE SURPRISE to announce tomorrow night.

You’ll start thanking me and Randy soon enough for all of this.

SEE YOU IN SAN JOSE“

The post builds on recent developments involving McAfee and Cody Rhodes, after McAfee aligned with Orton and took part in an attack on the Undisputed WWE Champion last week. WWE has already confirmed that Rhodes will respond to that incident on Friday’s show.

This week’s SmackDown will take place at the SAP Center, setting the stage for McAfee’s promised reveal. While no official details have been announced regarding the surprise, his comments suggest it could have major implications heading into WrestleMania.

With tensions rising between Orton and Rhodes, and McAfee now directly involved, all eyes will be on SmackDown to see what exactly he has planned—and how it could impact WWE’s biggest storylines.

Current Card for 4/10 WWE SmackDown

• How will Cody Rhodes respond to Pat McAfee?
• Pat McAfee has a “massive surprise”
• Drew McIntyre promises to expose the real Jacob Fatu
• Sami Zayn is out for payback on Trick Williams
• Royce Keys debuts

Pat McAfee Teases “Massive Surprise” for WWE SmackDown in San Jose

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As noted, several matches involving AEW and TNA talent on independent shows have recently been canceled, including the advertised bout between MJF and Nic Nemeth, as well as Ricochet vs. Leon Slater. The decision was made by TNA President Carlos Silva, who cited “partner conflicts” as the reason behind the changes.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, there is widespread belief within the wrestling industry that WWE’s partnership with TNA may have influenced the cancellations. However, Meltzer stressed that this remains speculation and has not been confirmed.

“It’s really bad business, I mean, obviously, there’s been heavy speculation that it was WWE forcing the hand of TNA. I mean, everyone in wrestling thinks that’s the case. I cannot prove that’s the case. I know people who are involved who think that’s the case, but they also can’t prove it’s the case because the only thing that’s happened is Carlos Silva is the one who said it and it makes him look really bad saying it after proving it,” he explained. “Even if it comes from WWE and they say ‘We don’t want you doing this,’ I think that they should’ve fought back to the point of going like, ‘Okay, but the stuff that’s advertised for this week, I mean, give us a break’ … TNA is the one that looks bad, not WWE.”

The most high-profile of the canceled matches was set for the Create-A-Pro event on May 1, where MJF was originally scheduled to face Nemeth. Following the change, MJF will now issue an open challenge, while Nemeth is set to compete against Bear Bronson.

Despite remaining on the card, MJF did not hold back in expressing his frustration, taking to social media to criticize Silva after the decision became public.

While no official confirmation has been made regarding WWE’s involvement, the situation has sparked ongoing discussion within the industry. The cancellations have also impacted other independent bookings, adding further attention to the evolving relationships between promotions and how partnership agreements may affect cross-promotional appearances moving forward.

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Nic Nemeth has reacted to the cancellation of his scheduled match against MJF, admitting he was deeply disappointed after learning the bout would no longer take place.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Nemeth addressed the situation surrounding the Create-A-Pro event set for May 1, where the two were originally slated to face off. The match has since been pulled, with TNA citing “partner conflicts” as the reason.

“You know, I was really looking forward to this. I was really, really excited,” Nemeth said. “But, yes, as of yesterday, as I was flying in, I found out, because of certain partnerships and brands, TNA President Carlos Silva had to make a difficult decision and protect a couple of brands down the line and things that are actually contractually obligated to happen — can’t just kind of do whatever we want. Even though I think some things were approved at a different time, when it became the situation that it is now with a couple of different things happening at once, I feel like — I’m crushed. Because I was very much looking forward to doing this, but it’s unable to happen at the moment.”

Despite the setback, both Nemeth and MJF are still advertised for the May 1 show in Melville, New York, though they will now compete in separate matches. Nemeth is set to face Bear Bronson, while MJF will issue an open challenge.

“Still doing the Create-A-Pro show, and refunds will be available. MJF is going to do an open challenge there and he’s still going to be signing and doing all of the things at Create-A-Pro for that big show. All of those things will happen,” Nemeth said. “I’m going to wrestle Bear Bronson for the first time ever. I hate that it had to come out this way. I hate that this wasn’t all taken care of in the past. But that’s something we can all work on, I gotta start reading some fine print and we have to protect people that we actually work with and we have partnerships with. Usually I’m pretty great about that, so I’ll stay on that for everything that we do.”

While the match is off for now, Nemeth made it clear he still hopes to face MJF in the future.

“I’m bummed out. I’m going to try and make this match happen one day, and hopefully soon,” he said. “But at the moment, it is currently not happening.”

MJF, however, responded to the news in a far more blunt manner on social media, taking aim at TNA President Carlos Silva and criticizing the company. MJF called TNA President Carlos Silva a “dumb motherf***er” and said the pay in TNA is “sh*t.”

The situation extends beyond just one match. Other crossover bouts involving TNA talent have also been affected, including a previously scheduled match between Leon Slater and Ricochet at WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow on April 16.

For now, Nemeth vs. MJF is on hold, but based on Nemeth’s comments, the door remains open for the matchup to happen down the line if circumstances allow.

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Dynasty’s main event will feature the company’s most beloved name, “The Best Bout Machine” Kenny Omega, taking on the company’s foremost villain, “The Devil” MJF, for the company’s top prize. 

Omega is quite literally the reason for AEW existing, and there is a strong argument that MJF will go on to become a legend in AEW revered much in the same way “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is revered by WWE fans. But this bout represents something a little more, potentially the last time Omega could conceivably go for the world title after providing a stark reminder that even the best times must come to an end. 

Wrestling at its very core is heroes and villains, the ring being the battlefield upon which it is determined who must come out on top. In one corner will stand the man who put the Elite in All Elite Wrestling; in the other corner will stand a man known to be one step ahead of all rivals no matter how elite they may be. “Hangman” Adam Page, Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay, Cody Rhodes, Jon Moxley, CM Punk, and Omega in 2023, all have shown to be the heroes in their story, and still it was not enough when they came face-to-face with MJF – the pillar towering leagues over his contemporaries, and more than willing to go leagues beneath them to get what he wants. 

Billy Butcher vs. Homelander, Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin, Batman vs. Joker, Invincible vs. the Viltrumites — all stories told to say it doesn’t matter how noble the pursuit of the hero, there is a ground they will not fight on that makes it almost impossible for the righteous to prosper. So why tune in? Hope. The hope that the righteous will overcome, the hope that the hero is truly too good to be stopped by underhanded tactics, and the hope that at last the villain will get their comeuppance. 

And then once you zoom out of the story and the characters involved, there is the additional fact that MJF and Omega remain legitimately two of the best wrestlers, not just of their respective generations, but in the pantheon of great wrestlers in history. It’s a dream match. It was when they faced off the first time. It is after so much has gone against both men in this path so far. 

Omega’s defied all expectations to not only return from diverticulitis but continue to be the wrestler fans fell in love with, the man that turns a wrestling match into a work of art. MJF’s resurrected the very best version of himself after some stuttering and stammering towards the end of his initial title reign. Now it’s time to see who wants it more.

Written by Max Everett