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Pat McAfee ANSWERED THE CALL.

Pat McAfee appeared on the April 3 episode of Smackdown, attacking Cody Rhodes and being revealed as the person on the phone with Randy Orton.

PWInsider reported that the call was an Ari Emanuel call, as he's been very high on McAfee in general, but especially in the entertainment space. This has let to an incorrect notion that Triple H has no say on the creative direction of the show. He's still leading the week-to-week creative and the vast majority of the program.

We're told that the move was made in an effort to boost interest in the show, and for "corporate synergy" between WWE and ESPN. There were a number of people who weren't in favor of the direction of the "this place sucks" angle of the promo, and feel that those rarely if ever work in pro wrestling.

Bodyslam reported that the Cody Rhodes promo that happened later in the evening was instructed to be "from the hip," we can't confirm that the promo was unscripted, but it was unlisted on the company's run sheet.

The response internally that we've heard was mixed, but the company was well aware of the reaction online. Some internally chalked the reaction up to "heat," while others said it wasn't the kind of heat the company needed.

WWE sources had told Wrestlevotes in recent months that Pat McAfee would be figured into plans recently, although he denied that he'd be coming back soon. WWE sources tell Fightful that McAfee is also figured into upcoming WWE programming through WrestleMani.