I never thought I’d be writing about professional wrestling on WV Sports Nation, but here we are. The trope of “WVU ties run everywhere” rings true yet again. Former WVU punter and current ESPN media personality Pat McAfee is scheduled to be involved in Saturday’s main event of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read more: WVU legend Pat McAfee finds himself in WWE spotlight again.Â
This is not a new collaboration by any means. The Pennsylvania native has shared the squared circle some of with wrestling’s greats on the grandest stage, including ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
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Now, McAfee acts as a bad guy alongside 14-time WWE champion Randy Orton, picking on fans and riling up Cody Rhodes.
Why this is happening
Since winning the Elimination Chamber match in February, Orton’s character has been giving in to his dark side. He snapped on Rhodes, and started taking phone calls from a mysterious caller.
Fans became heated when McAfee of all people was the caller, coming to help ‘RKO’ in what he called a move to take back wrestling.
Typically, ‘heels’ are booed because of their character. It’s safe to say fans legitimately disliked the inclusion of McAfee.
I see why, too. Rhodes and Orton have enough history on their own, with stories intertwining for nearly two decades.
There didn’t need to be anyone else involved, and if there was, the caller shouldn’t have been another celebrity. Wrestlemania always includes mainstream stars, but WWE is putting too much stock into them this year.
Take off the fan blinders for a second, though, and put on your WVU-branded coonskin cap.
This is another great opportunity for a Mountaineer great to show off his talents on the big stage.
Representing us
While I personally loathe his inclusion in this story as a pro wrestling fan, I enjoy plenty of what McAfee does. His ESPN show is the only thing remotely worth watching on there right now, save for Sportscenter, and he’s an entertainer.
I’ve seen it first hand, and a boatload of fellow Mountaineers (past and present) have too. I stood in between WVU’s Life Sciences Building and Field Hall in the blazing August sun on the eve of the football season opener, and that man had me thinking Neal Brown’s Mountaineers were going to steamroll Penn State. Safe to say he had me fooled.
And long before his time as a media mastermind and Yinzer spokesperson, he was interviewing Bill Stewart and Tony Caridi at the Fiesta Bowl. McAfee’s legend grew when he made his way to the Indianapolis Colts, stealing the show more often than any punter should.
Not my cup of tea this year, but good for the (WVU) brand
I’m no pro wrestling expert, merely a casual fan. I speak for 99% of WWE fanatics when I say we are praying on McAfee’s downfall as a character. It’s a stupid inclusion, but adding celebrities is the way of the business at this time.
That said, I’m always happy to see a Mountaineer great get his time in the sun.
Night one of WrestleMania 42 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set to begin at 6 p.m. EST Saturday. The first hour is streaming for free on ESPN, before switching to ESPN’s subscription bundle. The main event between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, with McAfee at his service, wraps up the card.
Sunday action is headlined by WWE Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, putting his title on the line against Roman Reigns. It has the same start time as night one.
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