‘I was getting pretty exhausted' - Pat McAfee breaks silence on WWE absence
Image via WWE
Pat McAfee has finally addressed the swirling speculation around his sudden disappearance from WWE RAW commentary. The former NFL punter and charismatic WWE announcer revealed he's been feeling 'pretty exhausted' and has chosen to step away temporarily to recharge.
Pat McAfee confirms commentary break
McAfee has been missing from WWE broadcasts since the Money in the Bank premium live event. In his absence, Wade Barrett and Corey Graves have stepped in to join Michael Cole on the commentary desk. On his own platform, The Pat McAfee Show, the 38-year-old opened up about the decision, confirming that he won't be returning just yet.
The Pat McAfee Show Live | Monday June 23rd 2025
'I will not be commentating,' McAfee said. 'Continuing to just like kinda catch up on life as a whole.
Post-Money in the Bank, Pre-Night of Champions. Feels like a good time. I was getting pretty exhausted there.'
McAfee added that WWE has been fully supportive of his break, something he's 'very thankful' for.
The absence, while unannounced until now, had not gone unnoticed by fans. Many took to social media wondering why one of RAW's most energetic voices had suddenly gone quiet. Though some speculated it was storyline-related, McAfee made it clear that this was purely a personal call.
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There's currently no official word on when he might return to commentary duties, and by his own admission, he may miss Night of Champions as well.
WWE commentary shake-up draws varied response
Reactions online have been mixed. While a majority of fans expressed understanding and support for McAfee's need to rest, others were less forgiving. 'Feel free to continue being absent,' one fan quipped on X, formerly Twitter. Still, others praised his transparency and candidness.
One fan wrote, 'Take all the time you need. We'll be fine!' while another added, 'WWE isn't the same without him on commentary.'
Interestingly, the break may offer McAfee time to refocus on other ventures. In addition to his podcast and commentary work, he has made appearances in other sporting broadcasts, including during the NBA Finals.
As McAfee steps back to 'catch up on life,' the WWE Universe waits to see when - or if, he'll make his way back to the announce table. For now, fans will have to rely on Barrett and Graves to fill the energy void on RAW, while McAfee recharges behind the scenes.
In the fast-paced world of sports entertainment, even stars need to take a breath.
Also Read:
Top 5 best John Cena promos that shook the WWE universe
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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