Pat McAfee doesn’t sound like someone planning another WWE comeback. He doesn’t sound like someone taking a break either. Asked directly whether a return could happen within the next year, McAfee said fans can “sleep soundly” knowing he will never be back.
McAfee was answering questions on his Instagram Story on August 19 when one fan asked whether a WWE return was in the cards. His answer started with Randy Orton.
“If Randy had won, maybe, but I made a promise that I would never, ever. I would never be seen on WWE television ever again.”
McAfee was talking about WrestleMania 42, where Cody Rhodes defeated Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship. McAfee had been firmly behind Rhodes at the time. That apparently isn’t the case anymore.
“And Cody Rhodes won. He is the one. Wow, what a donkey he turned out to be. Maybe I was wrong with what I was saying.”
Then McAfee got back to his own WWE future, making it very clear that he is never coming back to WWE no matter what.
“But no, wrestling fans can sleep soundly understanding that I will never be back over there.”
McAfee has said something similar before. Two days after WrestleMania 42, he went on The Pat McAfee Show and said his wrestling story was finished after getting to wrestle, commentate, referee and manage during his run.
“For me, I finished my story. I came up in the indies—IWA East Coast. I went through developmental in NXT. I was a wrestler, trained by Rip Rogers. NXT—I commentated, then got to WWE and commentated. Did pre-shows, wrestled, refereed, managed—lucky to do all that. The wrestling business is now in the rearview mirror. To the wrestling business, I’d like to say—thank you so much.”
Four months later, McAfee isn’t walking any of that back. A fan gave him the perfect opportunity to tease another WWE appearance, and he went in the opposite direction. No “never say never.” No comeback tease. No suggestion that he just needs more time away. According to Pat McAfee, he will never be back on WWE television.
Do you believe Pat McAfee is really finished with WWE for good, or do you think he’ll eventually change his mind and return? Let us know in the comments.
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