Pat McAfee confirms he will not return to WWE television

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Pat McAfee returned to WWE earlier this year and turned heel as Randy Orton’s mystery caller for the build to WrestleMania 42. That was the start of a really shitty angle that many wrestling fans criticized for ruining the main event match of WWE’s biggest show of the year. McAfee was elbow dropped through a table by Jelly Roll at WrestleMania Saturday, and later RKO’d in the ring by Orton. McAfee promised to never return to WWE television if Cody Rhodes retained the WWE championship against Randy. That’s exactly what happened, which means wrestling fans should never have to worry about seeing Pat in WWE again, outside of house shows. Then again, stipulations can be easily reversed in WWE, so never say never. McAfee happens to be in the news today now that he is part of ESPN’s official coverage for the NFL’s Monday Night Football. This led to some wrestling fans rejoicing about Pat being too busy on Monday nights to show up on WWE Raw. The man himself addressed his future with WWE on Instagram over the last 24 hours. McAfee is sticking with kayfabe and indeed saying the word “never” about his return to WWE. Pat McAfee says he will never be see on WWE TV ever again. pic.twitter.com/Ya11QDWD38 — Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) August 19, 2026 “If Randy would’ve won, maybe. But I made a promise that I would never, eeeeeever…I will never be seen on WWE television ever again. And Cody Rhodes won. He is the one. Wow. What a dog he turned out to be. Maybe he was the right one all along. Maybe I was wrong with what I was saying. But no, wrestling fans can sleep soundly understanding that I will never be back over there.” Will you sleep soundly at night knowing that Pat McAfee will never return to WWE, or is your sleep still being ruined by his terrible music album? Let me know in the comments below, Cagesiders.

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Former WWE commentator and ESPN personality Pat McAfee reiterated on social media that he will never appear on WWE television again following WrestleMania 42.