Pat McAfee vows to 'never' return to WWE in bold claim about wrestling future

Pat McAfee has vowed to "never" return to WWE television in the future.

The former NFL star, who controversially played a major on-screen role in the rivalry between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes before their dream match at WrestleMania 42 in April, had promised as part of the storyline to leave WWE for good if his ally Orton lost, which is exactly what happened in Las Vegas.

Four months later, Pat has responded to a fan on Instagram asking if he'll be back, and responded: "I made a promise that I would never, EVER - you just made the list...

"And Cody Rhodes won. He is the one. Wow. What a dog he turned out to be. Maybe he was the right one all along...

"Wrestling fans can sleep soundly understanding I will never be back over there."

The "you just made the list" comment was a quiet reference to former WWE legend Chris Jericho, who now works for rivals All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

In what may end up being his final appearance, McAfee was thrown threw a table by Jelly Roll, before returning with a neck brace to get involved in Orton and Rhodes' match.

However, he was laid out with an RKO by Orton after his opponent kicked out, and is yet to resurface.

His appearances in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania were his first since a one night return at Wrestlepalooza in September 2025.

Before that, he hadn't been featured on WWE television since June last year, having stepped away in the weeks after his match with GUNTHER at Backlash in May 2025.

As well as commentating on Netflix's Monday Night Raw and various premium live events, McAfee impressed fans in the ring over the years.

Before facing GUNTHER, he had appeared in the 2024 Royal Rumble, as well as having matches against the likes of The Miz, Happy Corbin, Austin Theory and Adam Cole.