Pat McAfee carved out significant headlines recently, confirming his anticipated return to WWE after temporarily exiting the spotlight.
On August 19, 2024, Pat McAfee made his farewell appearance on WWE Raw for the remainder of the year as he gears up for his commitments to ESPN College GameDay. "Very bummed out. Football season is starting, which is awesome. But the WWE family is where I'm supposed to be. And I know that's true," McAfee expressed during his heartfelt goodbye on the show. WWE fans, and McAfee himself, are counting the days until he returns when Raw transitions to Netflix in January 2025.
During his absence from WWE, McAfee continues to charm audiences on his show, which mixes sports insight and light-hearted humor. An episode on January 31, 2025, featured notable guests like WWE's Sheamus and former NFL player AJ Hawk, transforming the atmosphere with their entertaining banter. McAfee tweeted about the humorous exchange saying, "@OfficialAJHawk lost the vest you gave him @WWESheamus 😂😂 #PMSLive," showcasing the camaraderie among the trio.
Sheamus, the current World Heavyweight Champion, remains active inside the squared circle, having performed on WWE Raw after its reboot on Netflix, increasing anticipation for his future matches, including possible participation at Royal Rumble 2025. McAfee, alongside AJ Hawk, caught the wrestling world’s attention as they reveled in their comedic exchanges, strengthening the appeal of The Pat McAfee Show.
Stephanie McMahon, daughter of WWE's co-founder Vince McMahon, also graced The Pat McAfee Show as she promoted her upcoming ESPN+ series, Stephanie's Places. Interestingly, McMahon revealed her childhood disdain for WWE's most iconic figure, Hulk Hogan, stating, "When I was growing up, I always loved the heels. I didn’t like cheering for Hogan." This surprising admission not only highlighted her affection for the antagonists of her youth but also made for some laughs during their conversation, particularly when McAfee echoed the crowd's discontent when Hogan made his Netflix debut by acknowledging, "L.A. booed his ass out," to which McMahon playfully agreed, confirming, "They did, yeah."
Throughout this segment, nostalgia mixed with humor as McMahon recalled her early days with WWE, recalling her awkward moments posing with merchandise featuring Hogan, wearing the "Hulk Rules" cap under less-than-exciting conditions. Her amusing anecdotes draw the audience back to the roots of wrestling entertainment and the notorious WWE character dynamics.
Shifting gears from wrestling to football, Nick Sirianni, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, also appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, primarily discussing the stellar performance of his quarterback, Jalen Hurts. Sirianni praised Hurts during the interview, underlining his leadership and ability to steer the team to victory. "All he does is win, and he puts us in positions to win," Sirianni stated, recognizing Hurts’ exceptional work ethic and focus on team success above personal accolades. His insight provides listeners with firsthand knowledge from inside the Eagles’ locker room, showcasing how the team rallies together amid criticism and expectations.
The intertwining of sports commentary and comedy is what makes The Pat McAfee Show stand out, giving fans of both WWE and football access to candid conversations with their favorite personalities. With McAfee leading these discussions, audiences can expect humor, real talk, and genuine connections from the world of sports.
The buzz surrounding McAfee's WWE return and his entertaining guests sets the stage for his significant role as both entertainer and sports commentator. His interactions resonate well with fans as they support him through his ventures, whether they occur on the football field or within the wrestling ring. With so many major events and surprises lined up, supporters are excited about what’s next for McAfee and his guests.
Whether it’s through the laughter shared on his show or the electric atmosphere he brings to the WWE ring, Pat McAfee continues to be at the center of the action, blending the worlds of sports and entertainment seamlessly.