Randy Ortons mystery phone storyline finally reached its payoff on the SmackDown, and the reveal immediately turned violent as Cody Rhodes was left laid out in the ring. For weeks, WWE teased Orton speaking to an unknown person on the phone, with speculation running wild about who was behind the scenes influencing his actions. Names like Vince McMahon and The Rock were rumored, while reports also indicated WWEs original plan for the mystery figure fell through before the company pivoted to a new direction. That mystery came to an end during the opening segment of the April 3 episode of SmackDown when Pat McAfee was revealed as the man Orton had been speaking to all along. The segment started with Orton making his way to the ring in his hometown of St. Louis, where he addressed the crowd and turned his attention to WrestleMania 42 and his goal of winning the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes. Rhodes soon came out to confront Orton, and the two quickly began trading punches. Just as the fight broke down, McAfee appeared from behind and delivered a low blow to Rhodes, officially revealing himself as Ortons mystery ally. With Rhodes stunned, Orton grabbed a steel chair and launched a brutal attack, striking Rhodes multiple times while McAfee stood alongside him. McAfee then explained that he had been the voice pushing Orton to become more ruthless again, aligning himself with Ortons mindset as tensions continue to rise ahead of WrestleMania 42. The attack left Rhodes down in the ring as Orton and McAfee walked backstage together, solidifying their new alliance. After weeks of speculation involving several major names, WWE pulled the trigger on a reveal that not only solved the mystery but also escalated the feud between Orton and Rhodes in a big way heading toward WrestleMania 42. Do you think revealing Pat McAfee as Randy Ortons mystery caller was the right move, or were you expecting a bigger name behind the storyline? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments. G Add as a preferred source on Google
