In a move that’s got wrestling fans shedding more tears than Ric Flair at a retirement match, Pat McAfee has announced that tonight’s WWE Raw will be his last, at least for a while. Yes, folks, the man who’s been the voice behind the chaos, the maverick of the mic, is once again swapping bodyslams for pigskins as he gears up for another season of “ESPN’s College GameDay.”
After taking a well-deserved break from WWE commentary and then making a triumphant return earlier this year, McAfee has been back where he belongs—raising hell behind the desk. But as the great philosopher Jean-Luc Picard once said, “All good things must come to an end.” Or at least a temporary pause, because McAfee’s stepping away from WWE, probably making Vince McMahon reconsider his life choices.
McAfee broke the news himself on Instagram, of course, where all serious wrestling business is conducted. In a heartfelt video, he revealed that tonight’s episode in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, would be his last for a bit. As he cruised down the highway, likely violating at least three traffic laws, with Jelly Ranch and Post Malone providing the soundtrack, McAfee poured out his heart like he was delivering a Hall of Fame speech. The man loves his WWE family, folks, and it’s clear the feeling’s mutual—except maybe from that one guy in the third row who always brings a “CM Punk” sign.
Why the hiatus, you ask? Well, the NCAA Football season waits for no man, not even Pat McAfee. He’s off to rejoin “College GameDay” as an analyst, prepping to analyze plays, call out questionable referee decisions, and probably start a few more internet beefs along the way. This isn’t his first rodeo; McAfee’s been part of the College GameDay crew for the past two seasons, so it’s more of a homecoming than a new gig. And this season’s kickoff? A Florida State vs. Georgia Tech showdown in Ireland. Nothing says American football like a game played in a country where the closest thing to football involves kicking a round ball into a net.
So, for now, we bid adieu to McAfee in the WWE ring, but rest assured, the man’s just a channel flip away. And who knows? Maybe he’ll bring back some of that Irish luck to WWE when he returns—whenever that may be.