ESPN's Pat McAfee not only made his shocking return to the WWE commentary table for the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium live event, but he also went one step further entering the match.
The former NFL punter is no stranger to competing in a WWE ring, having previously competed in matches 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, but instead provided a moment of comedy in the game.
After his entrance music played to the surprise of the fans and McAfee himself, the former football player reluctantly made his way from the announce table to the ring.
McAfee stayed between the ropes for just 38 seconds before facing the hulking 7-foot-4, 415-pound 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 two formidable competitors before eliminating himself
As he walked back to the announce table, McAfee threw up his hands as if to say “no.”
As he walked back to his seat at the lectern, McAfee threw his hands in the air as if to say “no” before returning to his commentary duties.
In addition to a dash of comedy, McAfee's performance also provided some much-needed cross-sport star power after Brock Lesnar was “retired” from the game after being linked to recent sex trafficking allegations against Vince McMahon.
Although Lesnar was not named in the lawsuit, Grant claimed that McMahon told her in July 2021 to create sexual content for a wrestler who was a former UFC heavyweight champion that the company wanted to retire.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon allegedly arranged a meeting between Grant and the unnamed wrestler. However, a sexual encounter between the two ultimately did not take place because the wrestler was drunk and taken back to his plane.
McMahon also allegedly gave Grant's phone number to the wrestler, who then asked her to send them a video of herself urinating. The lawsuit alleges that after she did it, he called her a “slut.”
In their report on the allegations, The Wall Street Journal identified Lesnar as the wrestler in question.