Pat McAfee Makes Gunther Prediction After WWE Backlash Match
Pat McAfee predicts big things for his WWE Backlash opponent, Gunther.
The WWE Backlash PLE featured just five matches. One match that became a personal rivalry was between former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and Raw announcer Pat McAfee.
While McAfee has competed in a WWE ring several times over the last seven years, he is mainly an announcer now. Putting him against a former champion like Gunther, who is known for his physicality in the ring, made it a longshot that McAfee would win.
It was a physical match with many chops and boots delivered by Gunther, but to Pat McAfee’s credit, he took it all as best he could. Michael Cole even tripped up Gunther at one point, and McAfee got a nearfall out of it. However, Gunther managed to come back and win by submission with a Sleeper in a match that lasted 14 minutes.
After the match, Gunther extended a hand to Pat and Cole. There wasn’t a handshake, but it was as if Gunther was saying this issue was over, and it was a sign of respect.
During his Pat McAfee Show on ESPN/YouTube, the excitable WWE announcer talked about how he was feeling two days after the match.
“The body is a little battered and bruised. Me and Gunther had a moment in time where I believe I showcased to him something that he showed a little respect. I showed him I wasn’t scared to eat one of those [chops] if need be.”
Pat McAfee Believes Gunther Could Be One Of The Greatest WWE Superstars Of All-Time
As the discussion continued about the Backlash match, McAfee admitted that it went longer than he thought it would.
“This went a lot longer than I thought it was going to be.
I think the first chop popped both of my eardrums, the sound.”
McAfee also had a lot of good things to say about his opponent Gunther, even predicting that he could become an all-time great superstar in WWE.
“To Gunther’s credit, him giving me the head nod at the end, I think he acknowledged what happened in there. I think he was waiting until it was on camera to be able to do that. If you saw him talking to the ref, I think he was asking the ref, ‘I would like people to see this and know this.’
What an honor it was to get into the ring once again and be part of Backlash and fight [Gunther]. He might be in GOAT conversations when it’s all said and done.
Michael Cole, I’m sorry I couldn’t get us the win. At least I think the guy who was bullying your old ass around knows we’re willing to fight if we have to.”
Considering that Gunther has been on the main roster for just three years and is already the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion ever and a former World Heavyweight Champion, Pat’s prediction about Gunther’s future could be accurate.
In a photo posted to social media a few hours after his match, Pat McAfee revealed that his chest was burning due to all the chops from the big man Gunther.
My chest… is ahhh… burning pic.twitter.com/RVrhRkRYuf
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 11, 2025