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Pat McAfee Shares Neck Scan Results After WWE WrestleMania 42

By Sridhar Krishnan • Published Apr 22, 2026 11:47 EDT
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Pat McAfee was beaten up multiple times at WrestleMania 42 - Source: WWE.com

Pat McAfee had a forgettable WrestleMania 42 appearance.

In the weeks leading up to the Show of Shows, the former NFL star was introduced into the Randy Orton-Cody Rhodes storyline on WWE SmackDown.

The move was criticized by many viewers who thought that their segments did not need a third party because they were entertaining as is.

Reports later claimed that McAfee’s addition to the storyline was influenced by Ari Emanuel, the CEO and executive chairman of TKO Group, who is also McAfee’s agent.

While speaking during his in-ring segments, Pat McAfee often took a dig at WWE’s failure to sell out WrestleMania 42 tickets, something that genuinely irked the wrestlers backstage.

The 38-year-old was back to his shenanigans on Night 1 of WrestleMania 42, as he attacked Cody Rhodes with the microphone even before the main event match began.

It led to Rhodes hitting him with his Cross Rhodes finisher, which was followed by Grammy Award-winning artist, Jelly Roll, sending him through the commentator’s desk with a diving elbow.

The match routinely progressed without McAfee until referee Mark Robinson was RKO’d by The Viper, who misinterpreted him to be Cody.

This led to McAfee returning to the match while wearing a neck brace and a referee’s t-shirt. However, he was then betrayed by Randy Orton, who hit an RKO on him.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Rhodes hit his finisher on Orton for the pinfall.

Pat McAfee Provides Update On Injured Neck

Pat McAfee had been a busy man on the road to WrestleMania. After the Showcase of the Immortals, his wife, Samantha, shared a picture of McAfee on social media, showing him still wearing the neck brace.

The NFL punter recently shared an update on the condition of his neck, claiming that he got his scan results back.

Sharing a video on X, where he still wore the neck brace, McAfee recounted the events of WrestleMania 42 before revealing the result of the scan.

Ladies and gentleman, I have some big news, okay? I got my scans back and after a hellacious WrestleMania Saturday, where Cody Rhodes, The American Nightmare, just might be QB1, hit me with a Cross Rhodes.

Then Jelly Roll jelly-rolled me through a commentator table, which I have forgiven him for. Yeah, he took advantage of the moment to babyface on me, to make himself look…he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do. I assume we’ll get back and go, and he goes BOOM…whole body goes lifeless.

I get to the back, turns out just need a little cover for the neck. Run back out there; 1…2…, and then Randy Orton RKOs me BANG!!! And I thought for sure I was gonna have a C2-C5 problem.

Got scans back this morning live from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia. Guess what?! (removes neck brace) We’re clear.

Pat McAfee also put forward a stipulation where if Randy Orton could not beat Cody Rhodes, he would never be seen in WWE again.