Fantasy booking a Pat Mcafee replacement tonight on Smackdown
To make sense of a story and character that feels a bit random with Pat Mcafee, I would replace Pat tonight with Jesse “The Body” Ventura. While this move wouldn’t really get people excited or move tickets, I think it would make the most sense at this point in the story to create the best narrative moving forward. (I know he’s old and would get no reaction but just a fantasy booking for fun)
I’d have Randy turn on Pat tonight by punting him, then viciously attack Cody (to remain the heel) then introduce Jesse as his manager/voice. Here’s why:
Given what Pat said in his promo, about not liking this new generation of wrestlers and wanting that old school back, it felt like words right out the mouth of Jesse Ventura. A staple of the older generation and an incredible voice that’s much more believable than Pat. Mark Henry said on Busted Open right when Randy turned, that guys like Jesse would love this.
In a recent SNME Jesse made a comment on commentary that he paved the way for commentators to make the amount of money they make today. It would be very believable that Jesse sees Pat as someone who is being handed everything while Jesse paved the way. TKO wants Pat as the next big thing while it should’ve been Jesse in his prime. Now you have a reason for Jesse to get in Randy’s ear and kick Mcafee to the curb.
Jesse on commentary has expressed his disdain in the past for both Dusty and Cody. Feeling that neither of them fit as what a true pro wrestler should be. Dusty didn’t have the look to be there. And he was furious when Cody cheated against KO at SNME by using a chair. Why not join Randy, the embodiment of what Jesse believes pro wrestling is and use it to take Cody out.
Right now the story feels like it’s about Pat. But if Jesse is the replacement, since he’s old and can’t physically intervene, it puts the focus back on Cody vs Randy and actually makes Randy feel like a heel and not a marketing puppet, now giving him a true heel manager by his side similar to how Paul Heyman is used over on Raw.
While Pat can definitely bring more energy and entertainment to the story, fantasy booking Ventura in is just an idea of how you could get the focus back on Cody and Randy and not have a repeat Mania finish with involvement from Pat leading to fans being disappointed.