Not only did ESPN’s Pat McAfee make his shocking return to the WWE commentary desk for the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, but he also went a step further when he entered the match.
The former NFL gambler is no stranger to competing in a WWE ring having previously competed against two-time United States Champion Austin Theory and now All Elite Wrestling star Adam Cole.
Competing is exactly what McAfee didn’t do during his Rumble appearance, instead providing a moment of comedy to the match.
After the music played at his entrance, to the surprise of the fans and McAfee himself, the former football player reluctantly made his way from the announce desk to the ring.
McAfee spent just 38 seconds between the ropes before facing the towering 7-foot giant Omos and athletic freak Bron Breakker and climbing over the top rope to eliminate himself from the match.
ESPN’s Pat McAfee made a shocking but short-lived appearance at the Men’s Royal Rumble
McAfee entered the ring and faced down two huge competitors before eliminating himself
As he walked back to the announce desk, McAfee threw his hands in the air as if to say “no.”
As he walked back to his seat at the announce desk, McAfee threw his hands in the air as if to say “no” before returning to his commentary.
In addition to adding a touch of comedy, McAfee’s performance also added some much-needed cross-sport star power after Brock Lesnar was ‘pulled’ from the match after being linked to the recent sex trafficking allegations against Vince McMahon.
Although Lesnar was not named in the lawsuit, Grant alleged that McMahon told her in July 2021 that she had to create sexual content for a wrestler who was a former UFC heavyweight champion and whom the company was trying to resign.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon allegedly arranged a meeting between Grant and the unnamed wrestler, with a sexual encounter between the pair ultimately not taking place as the wrestler was drunkenly escorted back to their plane.
McMahon also allegedly gave Grant’s phone number to the wrestler, who then requested that she send them a video of her urinating. The lawsuit claims that after she did that, he called her a “b****.”
In their report on the allegations, the Wall Street Journal identified Lesnar as the wrestler in question.
