Pat McAfee Responds To Criticism Following WWE Raw

Pat McAfee has admitted there’s room for improvement following his move to Raw.

At the Royal Rumble, Pat McAfee made a surprise return to the announce desk before making an even more surprising return to the ring in the men’s Rumble match itself. Although he quickly eliminated himself at the prospect of having to go toe-to-toe with Omos and Bron Breakker.

However, while McAfee’s return to the ring was brief, his comeback on commentary looks to be much more permanent. On Raw, it was confirmed that Michael Cole and Pat McAfee will be the new announce team on the red brand.

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, the former NFL admitted he needs to brush up a little having been away from the booth for the best part of a year.

“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,”

McAfee went on to address some of the criticism that came his way on social media during the show.

“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,”

Pat McAfee Return Sparks Commentary Reshuffle

Pat McAfee’s return came just days after it was confirmed that Kevin Patrick had been released by WWE. Patrick had been working as a commentator on SmackDown.

With McAfee on Raw, Wade Barrett is heading back to SmackDown to link up with Corey Graves.

H/t to Fightful