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Pat McAfee Says He'll Never Return to WWE After WrestleMania Stipulation

An Instagram reply enforces his WrestleMania promise, signaling a move into expanded ESPN NFL roles.

Overview

  • McAfee told fans on Instagram that he will “never be seen on WWE television ever again,” repeating a vow he made tied to WrestleMania 42.
  • The WrestleMania stipulation was triggered when Cody Rhodes beat Randy Orton in April 2026, a result McAfee cited as the reason for his exit.
  • McAfee has described visible injuries from his WrestleMania involvement, including cuts and a neck brace, and said he awaited medical scans after the match.
  • Media outlets report McAfee is taking on larger duties at ESPN, including a role on Monday Night Countdown, and some reports cite contract figures as high as $60 million per year.
  • Fans and critics widely criticized McAfee’s WrestleMania role for disrupting the main event, and outlets note that, despite his pledge, wrestling stipulations have been reversed in the past so a future return cannot be ruled out entirely.