A new report has claimed that a popular WWE star could be back with the company as soon as the Royal Rumble.
On September 7th it was announced that Pat McAfee had landed a new gig as part of ESPN’s ‘College Gameday’ team. The announcer has also agreed to do alternative broadcasts for select college football games on ESPN 2.
Following the news, it was confirmed that as a result, McAfee would be taking a break from the SmackDown announce desk to focus on his new role.
McAfee was initially replaced by Corey Graves before WWE made a number of changes to their commentary teams a month later. As part of the re-shuffle, Wade Barrett joined Michael Cole on SmackDown, Booker T moved to NXT alongside Vic Joseph and the Raw Commentary returned to being a two-person booth. Jimmy Smith left the company with Kevin Patrick joining Graves calling the action.
Pat McAfee Nearing WWE Return?
It has now been reported that Pat McAfee could be back with WWE very soon, and maybe as early as the Royal Rumble.
The report from Fightful Select notes that there has been internal speculation that McAfee is coming back. Fightful adds that one talent said they had heard he could be returning at the Royal Rumble in San Antonio, Texas.
There is no word on what a potential appearance could look like, and whether it might involve the former NFL star wrestling. McAfee wrestled twice in 2022, facing Austin Theory and Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 38, before taking on Baron Corbin at SummerSlam.
Following his retirement from the NFL, McAfee also began dipping his toes into the crazy world of WWE in 2018. This eventually led to him competing in the ring and becoming an on-screen personality. On April 16th, 2021 McAfee became colour commentator for Friday Night SmackDown alongside Michael Cole.