Pat McAfee Announces Wrestling Retirement After WrestleMania 42
Pat McAfee announced his retirement from professional wrestling on his show following WWE WrestleMania 42. The former WWE commentator and performer honored a pre-match promise he made before the main event.
McAfee declared before WrestleMania that he would walk away from wrestling if Randy Orton failed to defeat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. With Rhodes retaining his title, McAfee confirmed he's keeping his word.
"The good news is, the business doesn't need to be saved after all," McAfee said. "And good for them. And for me, I finished my story."
The ESPN personality detailed his extensive career path through professional wrestling during his announcement. McAfee highlighted the various roles he held throughout his time in the business.
"I came up in the indies, IWA East Coast," he said. "I went through development, NXT. I was a wrestler, trained by Rip Rogers, the same guy that trained everybody that's retiring kind of currently, out of OVW."
McAfee continued listing his accomplishments. "Get to WWE, commentated, lucky to do that. Did pre-shows, lucky to do that. Wrestled, lucky to do that. Reffed, lucky to do that. Managed, lucky to do that. It's been a hell of a run. Thank you, wrestling. It was an honor to be over there."
McAfee was involved in the Rhodes vs. Orton main event at WrestleMania 42. He was put through a table by Jelly Roll during the match and received an RKO from Orton.
"Maybe he didn't know it was me," McAfee said about the RKO. "[But] it felt like he knew."
McAfee has appeared in a neck brace following the event, selling the physical toll of his WrestleMania appearance. He was spotted celebrating with Tyrese Haliburton at a 50 Cent concert while still wearing the brace.
"The wrestling business just kind of, rearview mirror," McAfee said. "And to the wrestling business, I'd like to say: thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you."
