While there have been some rumors that Pat McAfee was expected to return to WWE television soon after an extended hiatus that began in mid-2025, that will not be the case. Although he stays under a multi-year WWE contract, he stepped away after Money within the Bank 2025 attributable to burnout and to give attention to his commitments with ESPN’s College GameDay and The Pat McAfee Show.
His most up-to-date in-ring match was against GUNTHER at Backlash on May 10, 2025. Reports in January 2026 noted that WWE was planning for his return in the course of the Road to WrestleMania now that the school football season has ended. McAfee also continues to play a key role connecting WWE and ESPN, especially after the 2026 deal that made ESPN+ the exclusive U.S. home for WWE pay-per-view event.
Despite this, McAfee recently commented on his WWE future. He said,
“Will I be returning to the WWE in the long run? I don’t think you ever say never, you understand? Especially with WWE. But immediately it doesn’t feel prefer it is something that’s imagined to occur. It looks like that business has type of passed me by somewhat bit … I grew up lovin’ it. Dreamed of workin’ it. Feel honored that I had the chance to work alongside the G.O.A.T Michael Cole. But I feel just like the biz is in a superb spot without me and I’ll proceed to look at.”
There is no such thing as a word on if he’s working with this, as WWE is commonly known to bring him back as a surprise.
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