Former NFL punter Pat McAfee has officially confirmed his departure from WWE following a tumultuous WrestleMania 42 appearance that left him injured and embroiled in controversy. The 38-year-old Indianapolis native, who transitioned from football to sports entertainment after his NFL career, made the announcement via social media shortly after leaving Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on a stretcher during the event’s opening night.
McAfee entered WrestleMania 42 with a clear stipulation: he would leave WWE if his ally Randy Orton lost the Undisputed WWE Championship match to Cody Rhodes. Despite his efforts to interfere on Orton’s behalf, Rhodes emerged victorious, triggering McAfee’s self-imposed exit clause. The situation escalated when McAfee turned heel by revealing himself as Orton’s mystery caller, attacking Rhodes before the bell rang and ultimately being stretchered out after a confrontation with Jelly Roll.
The Grammy-winning recording artist Jelly Roll played a pivotal role in the incident, delivering an elbow drop that sent McAfee crashing through the announce table. Ringside doctors immediately responded, placing the injured commentator on a stretcher for medical evaluation. Even as he was being transported from the ring, McAfee maintained his characteristic defiance, flipping off the Las Vegas crowd before disappearing backstage.
McAfee later returned to the ring during the match, attempting to assist Orton by wearing a referee’s shirt and neck brace. However, his effort backfired when he failed to make a proper three-count after Rhodes kicked out of an RKO attempt. Orton subsequently turned on McAfee with his own RKO, ending their alliance before Rhodes capitalized with a Cross Rhodes to retain his championship.
In his official confirmation, McAfee stated: “First morning since 2017 babe is completely out of the wrestling business, thanks to [Jelly Roll].” He accompanied the message with a photograph from his hotel room, documenting his post-WrestleMania 42 condition. The announcement was further reinforced by a tweet from the account FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) featuring the hashtag #WrestleMania and the declaration “PAT MCAFEE HAS CONFIRMED HIS RETIREMENT FROM WWE.”
Visual evidence corroborated McAfee’s departure, with multiple angles showing him being carted from the arena on a stretcher following the Jelly Roll-induced table spot. Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) shared footage of the incident, noting McAfee’s visible frustration as he was removed from the premises.
Despite his departure from active competition, McAfee’s impact on WWE programming remains significant. His transition from NFL special teams standout to beloved wrestling personality represented one of the most successful cross-sport transitions in recent memory, bringing his distinctive humor and authenticity to a new audience over several years of involvement with the company.
As of this report, WWE has not issued an official statement regarding McAfee’s departure, though the stipulation-based nature of his exit appears to have been fulfilled according to the pre-established terms of his WrestleMania 42 involvement. The company continues to focus on the ongoing championship narrative between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton following Rhodes’ successful title defense at the event.
For continuing updates on WWE roster developments and future programming directions, readers are encouraged to follow official WWE communications channels and trusted sports news outlets.
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