WWE fans who have grown weary of celebrity appearances may want to brace themselves, because the rumblings of another high-profile crossover are getting louder. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, there has been serious internal discussion about bringing ESPN's Stephen A. Smith into the WWE fold. For a fanbase already divided on personalities like Pat McAfee, this news is likely to stir up strong reactions.

The timing couldn't be more interesting. Meltzer's report comes hot on the heels of Kevin Nash's recent comments urging TKO executives to keep their hands off WWE creative. While Meltzer notes that TKO interference is rare, he warns that when it does happen, it tends to come at the worst possible moments—citing this year's WrestleMania as a prime example. "They don't do it much," Meltzer said, "but they seem to always do it at the most inopportune times."

Here's where it gets especially intriguing: Meltzer revealed that some of the very people who were critical of Pat McAfee's involvement in the WrestleMania 42 build are actually open to Stephen A. Smith stepping in. That's a twist that might leave fans scratching their heads. Smith himself addressed the possibility last month, confirming that WWE President Nick Khan had spoken with him about an on-screen role. The 58-year-old ESPN star made it clear he has no interest in getting physical, but he didn't rule out an appearance entirely. Given his admiration for old-school heel managers like Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, a managerial character seems like the most natural fit for Smith if he makes the leap.

This isn't coming out of nowhere. WWE's relationship with ESPN has grown significantly since the two sides struck a PLE deal in September 2025. During WrestleMania week, WWE received prominent daytime coverage on the network, and stars like Danhausen and Seth Rollins have popped up on ESPN during the Backlash build. That growing partnership makes Smith a more logical crossover candidate than many of the celebrity names that typically get floated for WWE roles. Love it or hate it, the lines between sports media and sports entertainment keep blurring, and Stephen A. Smith might be the next big name to walk that line.