Pat McAfee Claims Nobody Gave Him A Heads-Up About Being An Entrant In 2024 WWE Royal Rumble

Pat McAfee reflects on his 2024 WWE Royal Rumble experience. 

Pat McAfee is too busy these days to appear on WWE programming regularly but whenever he can step back behind the announce desk, he always has a good time. McAfee returned at the 2024 Royal Rumble and called the event alongside Corey Graves and Michael Cole. 

Speaking about his experience in a digital exclusive, McAfee said he jumped at the chance to return by the side of Cole and Graves when he was offered the commentary role for the evening. 

“Yeah, coming back to get a chance to be in front of the WWE Universe is an absolute honor. I was told, ‘Hey, Pat, you wanna come back and commentate?’ I said, hell yes. The Royal Rumble, what an event. Stories can be written, where dreams can come true. ‘You want to commentate?’ I said, ‘Hell yeah,’ work with Michael Cole, the greatest of all time, alongside Corey Graves with a fresh baby, fresh mindset, fresh haircut. I said, ‘I would love to do that.'” 

His night didn’t only consist of commentary, however. McAfee was also the surprise 22nd entrant in the men’s WWE Royal Rumble Match. He was also quickly eliminated as he jumped over the ropes himself after deciding he did not want to square off with Omos and Bron Breakker. 

Reflecting on that portion of his experience, McAfee joked that he did have second thoughts about being a coward but ultimately decided that that was the best path for him that evening.

“All of a sudden, what, 22, I’m in the Royal Rumble? Nobody gave me a heads-up about that,” McAfee claims. “I got my cowboy boots on. Michael Cole let me go in there. That was rude of him. I thought we were friends. Then there was a thing in there. Seven foot three, okay? You’re just looking up at a statue of a being. I see little Bron Breakker go like barking at me. I’m like, I’m not supposed to be in here. Why would I be in here right now? I’m not prepared for this. Also, who would I be to take a main event at WrestleMania spot away from somebody? So I got my ass out of there. Now I went back in because I thought to myself, wait a minute, am I just gonna be a coward? 

“I realized quickly, ‘Yeah, I think tonight I am.’ I went right back to the booth. And it was great. It was a great show,” he added. 

In the past, Michael Cole has stated that he will not retire from announcing until he gets a full-time run alongside Pat McAfee. Read more here.

Fans can find results from WWE Royal Rumble by clicking here. Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show by clicking here. 

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