How Pat McAfee Was Brought Into WWE

As fans continue to speculate about Pat McAfee’s potential full-time return, WWE Unreal Season 2 has finally revealed how his journey with WWE first began — and it all started with Michael Cole.

Speaking during the January 20, 2026 episode of the Netflix docuseries, Cole shared that he was the one who initially brought McAfee into the company after learning he was a passionate wrestling fan. At the time, Cole was overseeing announce duties and decided to give McAfee a shot on the pre-shows for NXT Premium Live Events in 2018.

“We all found out that he was a big wrestling fan. I was running announce at the time, and I brought him in to start doing the pre-shows for our NXT Premium Live Events back in 2018, and he was amazing.”

That early opportunity blossomed into something more. Cole said the two gradually developed a strong personal and professional bond, which naturally transitioned into on-screen chemistry once McAfee moved to the commentary booth full-time.

“As Pat and I worked together in the commentary booth for three or four years, it became pretty obvious that the friendship and chemistry we built were real.”

This comes after WWE President Nick Khan confirmed during The Pat McAfee Show that discussions about his return were already underway, noting the company would “bring you back” once college football season slows down. McAfee had also teased that he was “in shape,” further fueling speculation.

With Michael Cole now revealing that he was the one who gave McAfee his WWE start, it’s clear the former NFL star’s connection to the company runs deeper than most realized—and his return may just be a matter of time.

Would you rather see Pat McAfee back at the commentary desk, or lacing up his boots for one more match? Let us know what you think!

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