Past History of Meddling
As mentioned, McAfee’s involvement isn’t the first time TKO has gotten involved in WWE creative’s decision-making. They appear to have been doing so since the companies officially merged in late 2023.
While we have already discussed the two most recent instances of interference, the most significant occurred in 2024 involving The Rock. Following his appointment to the TKO Board of Directors, reports surfaced that executives pushed for him to replace Cody Rhodes in the WrestleMania 40 main event against Roman Reigns.
This ended up blindsiding WWE’s creative team, so much so that Triple H decided to protect Rhodes’ story by having him win the Royal Rumble as a “passive-aggressive” way to preserve the original storyline. This move forced TKO to pivot, ultimately leading to the “Final Boss” heel turn.
It is worth noting that the three most critical involvements that TKO has either made or attempted to make have all revolved around Cody Rhodes. These include the attempt to pull him from the WrestleMania 40 main event, the insertion of Travis Scott into his WrestleMania 41 clash with John Cena, and the current involvement of Pat McAfee in his feud with Randy Orton.
With that in mind, one begins to wonder if there is friction between TKO and Cody. Perhaps last Friday’s impromptu promo, which Rhodes delivered midway into the show, was his way of saying that he’s had enough.
Ultimately, the foundation of WWE has always been that moments are earned rather than handed out. Yet, through these recent storylines, it appears TKO is delivering the exact opposite of that philosophy. Rather than interfering with WWE’s creative process, TKO should focus on making the product better and more affordable for fans and families. To echo what CM Punk famously said this past Monday, “lower the ticket prices.”
