NFL legend Pat McAfee had opted out of WWE's post-WrestleMania 42 plans after the negative reaction he received when revealed as Randy Orton's mystery caller.

The former NFL punter was unveiled on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, just two weeks before the biggest show of the year. The chaos surrounding McAfee's involvement in the Orton and Cody Rhodes program now has a clearer explanation. The reaction from fans when McAfee was revealed as the mystery caller directly influenced his decision to step away from the planned storyline.

McAfee's appearance on SmackDown was intended to build momentum heading into WrestleMania 42. The mystery caller angle had been a key component of the Orton-Rhodes feud in the weeks leading up to the Premium Live Event.

As per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, McAfee opted out of the angle, and that decision is what led to the broader changes to the plans surrounding WrestleMania 42 and Backlash.

Meltzer said:

"With the Pat McAfee thing, he opted out. That’s what actually led to everything changing….And then he opted out again."

“That’s why the tag match from Backlash was taken off. Orton and McAfee against Jelly Roll and Cody Rhodes, which Cody Rhodes may not be okay for Backlash anyway, you know with that eye."

The negative fan response appears to have led McAfee to reconsider his involvement in the post-WrestleMania plans WWE had for him. Meltzer said:

"I was told that the belief was that it was due to the reaction that he pulled out. It wasn’t like anything else."

McAfee has made sporadic appearances for WWE since his initial run with the company. He previously worked as a commentator on SmackDown and has competed in several high-profile matches, including bouts at WrestleMania.