Clarification On TKO’s Influence On WWE Creative Amid Pat McAfee Return

There has been lots of fan criticism about Pat McAfee’s insertion into the Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton’s storyline, and a new report clarifies TKO’s influence on WWE creative. As noted, McAfee was revealed as the mystery person talking to Orton amid his WrestleMania feud with Rhodes, culminating in McAfee’s appearance on WWE Smackdown where he low blow kicked Rhodes and then cut a promo about how WWE had left Attitude Era fans behind and business was down, leaving Orton to “save” the industry.

Ari Emanuel was the person behind the decision to bring McAfee into the storyline, which had reportedly been the case at least far back as Elimination Chamber. A fan asked about TKO’s “sudden” influence on WWE creative in the latest Fightful Select Answers Q&A, and Sean Ross Sapp offered some clarifications.

As Sapp noted, TKO is not “running roughshod” on creative and Triple H is still in charge of week-to-week creative. It is noted that this is not a “sudden” thing either; Emanuel was an important factor in getting The Rock involved in last year’s WrestleMania build. Emanuel is not getting involved in the creative for most storylines and has made “one or two” executive decisions, but ultimately Triple H remains in control of the company’s storylines.

McAfee is set to appear on this week’s WWE Smackdown and noted that he’ll have “some things to say.”