Corey Graves says WWE’s WrestleMania 42 celebrity mix faced backlash mainly due to timing and match context, not the stars themselves.
WWE’s WrestleMania 42 buildup in Las Vegas sparked plenty of debate, and Corey Graves has now explained why the celebrity additions became such a talking point.
Speaking in an interview. Graves addressed the involvement of Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll in the Randy Orton–Cody Rhodes storyline. arguing that the issue was less about who was there and more about when and where they appeared within the broader narrative.. For Graves, the timing played a key role in why fans reacted the way they did.
In this context. Graves suggested that fans had been waiting a long time to see Orton and Rhodes push their rivalry forward. and that adding other names made the situation feel less natural.. He described the perceived mismatch as characters that did not quite fit the moment. even if the overall idea of celebrity participation is not new to WrestleMania.
The bigger point from Graves is that celebrity segments can work, but they need the right narrative space to avoid disrupting what the audience is most invested in.
Graves also emphasized that skepticism was not necessarily aimed at McAfee or Roll themselves.. He framed it as a broader problem of circumstance. saying that even when a celebrity’s presence might make sense on paper. fans can still question the booking if it arrives at the wrong stage of a major feud.
Meanwhile, Graves noted that reactions differed depending on the specific celebrity and how the WWE universe ultimately received them during the show. He pointed to Lil Yachty’s inclusion as an example of how one part of the celebrity equation landed more smoothly than others.
That contrast matters because it highlights how WWE audiences judge these appearances: not just by star power, but by fit, pacing, and whether the central characters remain the clear focus.
Still, Graves closed by praising the end product in the Orton–Rhodes main event, crediting both performers for delivering a WrestleMania-worthy conclusion despite the surrounding noise from the buildup.