Backstage Update on Tag Team Match Involving Pat McAfee & Jelly Roll Being Planned for Backlash 2026

Pat McAfee’s involvement in the ongoing feud between Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton is expected to continue beyond WrestleMania 42, as a tag team match involving him and Jelly Roll is reportedly in the works, according to Dave Meltzer.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), Meltzer cited WWE sources as claiming that Cody Rhodes will team up with Jelly Roll to take on Randy Orton and Pat McAfee in a tag team contest at the Backlash Premium Live Event in Tampa, Florida, on May 9. Jelly Roll, it must be noted, was RKO’d by Orton two weeks ago on SmackDown after he intervened in the brawl between the former Legacy

As noted previously, McAfee was revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery caller on last week’s episode of SmackDown. He trashed Rhodes, the WWE product, brought up WrestleMania 42 ticket sales, and claimed that Orton will “save wrestling” by winning the Undisputed WWE Title in Las Vegas.

The move has since garnered immense outrage from fans and experts, and it even led to Cody and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk going off on Pat and his agent, TKO boss Ari Emanuel, who is reportedly the major reason behind Pat’s involvement in the feud.

Nevertheless, the angle is expected to continue, as McAfee has teased a “massive surprise” on tonight’s SmackDown.