Summary

Pat McAfee appears to be stepping away from WWE competition after WrestleMania 42.

The update came after WrestleMania, where McAfee got physically involved in the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. He was put through a table by Jelly Roll during the bout, then later took an RKO from Orton as the match chaos continued around ringside.

McAfee had said before WrestleMania 42 that he would leave wrestling if Orton failed to beat Rhodes for the title. Orton did not win, and the post-show update pointed back to that promise.

WrestleMania 42 fallout for Pat McAfee

McAfee was shown after the event wearing a neck brace, which underlined the damage he took during the WrestleMania main event angle.

That does not necessarily mean he is done appearing on WWE programming altogether, but it does signal that his latest in-ring chapter may have reached a clear stopping point after the Orton and Rhodes story paid off on the biggest stage.

What this could mean for McAfee's WWE role

If McAfee is finished as an active wrestler for now, WWE can slide him back into the role most fans know best, the high-energy commentator and celebrity presence who can still be used for major-event build when needed.

It also leaves the WrestleMania 42 angle as a contained payoff instead of the start of a longer feud, which fits the way McAfee has usually been used in WWE, sparingly, but in high-profile moments.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.