During the January 29 episode of WWE RAW, Michael Cole made an announcement regarding the show’s commentary team. He revealed that he and Pat McAfee would be taking over the role, sending Wade Barrett to SmackDown.
Earlier today, McAfee discussed his new position as RAW’s latest commentator on his “The Pat McAfee Show.”
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On the return: “I hopped back in the booth last night for Monday Night Raw and on Saturday for Royal Rumble. Haven’t done it in like a year or so. I’m gonna have to relearn the beats and the flow and what’s happening.
On criticism of his commentary: “I saw some wrestling marks who…I too, mark by the way, that is not a shot. Wrestling fans, I will say, because that term has been slanderized and everything like that, I saw them say a couple times, ‘Is this guy gonna talk through everybody’s promos?’ It’s hard for me not to go, ‘Ooh,’ when somebody says something. There were some good words spoken last night. There was tears in the ring last night. It was awesome being back. I gotta figure it out though, again. It’s such a different flow and beat than anything else. [I had] a blast. I had so much fun out there. There was a couple times I looked at Michael Cole, and I’m like, ‘What is happening?’ It’s coming back, like, ‘Oh yeah, oh yeah.’ They have picture-in-picture now, so getting into picture-in-picture, out of picture-in-picture. Obviously, new people in the headphones, it was fun, man. I’m loving it. It was an honor to be back there. Thank you to everybody for the hospitality, and let’s go. Let’s have a good time with this entire run. I’m pumped about it.”
Former NFL player turned sports commentator, Pat McAfee, has recently made his return to the WWE RAW commentary team. McAfee, who previously served as a commentator for the company, is excited about his new role alongside Michael Cole. The announcement was made during the January 29 episode of WWE RAW, where it was revealed that McAfee and Cole would be taking over the commentary duties, while Wade Barrett would be moving to SmackDown.
During a recent episode of his podcast, “The Pat McAfee Show,” McAfee discussed his return to the commentary booth and shared his thoughts on the criticism he has received in the past. He expressed his excitement about being back in the booth after a year-long hiatus and acknowledged that he would need to relearn the flow and beats of the show.
Addressing the criticism he has faced for talking over wrestlers’ promos, McAfee admitted that it’s difficult for him not to react when something exciting or impactful happens in the ring. He emphasized that he is a wrestling fan himself and appreciates the emotional moments that occur during promos. McAfee also mentioned that he had a blast being back on RAW and enjoyed working with Michael Cole. He admitted that there were a few moments where he looked at Cole and wondered what was happening, but overall, he had a great time.
McAfee also mentioned some of the changes he has noticed since his last stint as a commentator. He highlighted the introduction of picture-in-picture technology, which allows viewers to see ongoing action while commercials are playing. McAfee expressed his enthusiasm for this new feature and mentioned that he is still adjusting to it. Additionally, he mentioned that there are new people in the headphones, referring to the production team communicating with the commentators during the show.
In conclusion, Pat McAfee’s return to the WWE RAW commentary team has been met with excitement from fans and wrestlers alike. Despite facing criticism in the past, McAfee is determined to provide an entertaining and engaging commentary experience for viewers. With his passion for wrestling and his experience as a former professional athlete, McAfee is well-equipped to bring a unique perspective to the commentary booth. Fans can look forward to McAfee’s energetic and enthusiastic commentary as he continues his run on WWE RAW.