Pat McAfee is returning to WWE to fulfil his childhood dream.
The previous Indianapolis Colts punter-turned-media persona has had earlier stints on the commentary desk for the flagship Monday Evening Uncooked programme, and has additionally made appearances on different manufacturers together with NXT and SmackDown.
3
He final appeared on WWE TV again in August, earlier than he introduced he was taking a hiatus to function an analyst on ESPN’s Faculty GameDay present for the 2024 faculty soccer season.
However forward of Uncooked’s $5 billion transfer to Netflix, McAfee has shared an replace, confirming that he can be returning within the new yr.
“An absolute honor to be requested again,” he tweeted on Wednesday, December 4.
“A childhood dream realized each single time I’m fortunate sufficient to be in an area with the WWE Universe.
“Can’t wait to be speaking right into a microphone subsequent to Michael Cole once more. He’s the (GOAT).
“I’m excited to inform the worldwide viewers on Netflix how nice the WWE Superstars are… and the way large of scumbags a few of ‘em are too. Let’s go.”
Whereas McAfee now well-known within the skilled wrestling world, his leap from the NFL got here as a little bit of a shock on the time.
So precisely how did the previous punter find yourself on the commentary desk?
McAfee has been concerned with WWE since 2018 when he began as a part-time commentator with NXT, the developmental model.
He additionally served as a pre-show host for WrestleMania in 2019.
3
As a part of NXT, he was concerned in some storylines, together with one with former NXT Champion Adam Cole.
At NXT TakeOver XXX in August 2020, McAfee had a match towards Cole, during which he was defeated.
His storylines additionally included his personal steady – named The Kings of NXT – which included Pete Dunne, Ridge Holland, Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan.
They feuded with Cole’s steady, the Undisputed Period, and have been defeated on the NXT TakeOver: WarGames occasion in December 2020.
4 months later, it was introduced that McAfee had been moved to the SmackDown model, the place he went on to function coloration commentator alongside Michael Cole.
Throughout that point, he additionally had a variety of different on-screen feuds, one in every of which noticed him share the ring with Stone Chilly Steve Austin and Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 38.
3
He continued with WWE till September 2022, earlier than taking a hiatus for Faculty GameDay that yr.
McAfee returned in each 2023 and 2024, and two days after a shock look within the Royal Rumble match again in January, he made his full-time return to WWE on Uncooked as a part of the brand new commentary group with Cole, sticking round till August.
And along with his newest Faculty GameDay stint drawing to a detailed, McAfee will quickly be again on the desk, residing out his childhood dream as soon as once more.