WWE is planning a celebrity tag team match for Backlash, which fans are sure to be eyeing given the inclusion of Pat McAfee in the company's WrestleMania 42 plans.
According to Dave Meltzer in Friday's edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the current plan for PLE is Randy Orton and Pat McAfee vs. Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll, with multiple sources confirming that plans were still in place at press time.
Meltzer wrote, "McAfee will team with Orton against Rhodes and Jelly Roll coming off WrestleMania and have an important match at the Backlash PPV on 5/9, at least those are the plans that were confirmed to us by multiple people and were still in play at press time."
Jelly Roll's pairing with Rhodes is notable considering the country star's current relationship with WWE. Jelly Roll has appeared at WWE events before and has a connection to the fanbase, making him a better fit for the WrestleMania season storyline than any casual celebrity. It also fits since Jelly is coming to the aid of a fellow babyface.
McAfee's involvement in the story has not been without controversy. Reports earlier this week indicated that WWE has scaled back on parts of its creative plans following the negative reaction to McAfee being revealed as Orton's ally.
Fightful reported that CM Punk's comments on Raw reflected a change in direction that was not part of the plan since Friday McAfee was recently introduced into the angle. WWE is adjusting its approach to the storyline in real time, and the Backlash match reflects where these adjustments are currently pointing.
This angle is set to continue this Friday on SmackDown from San Jose. WWE has been advertising that Rhodes will answer to McAfee on the show, and McAfee revealed on Thursday that he will have a "big surprise" for the broadcast.
