Pat McAfee Admits Wrestling Business Doesn’t Need Saving, Says He Has Finished His Story

Pat McAfee is claiming to be done with the wrestling business and regrets what he said during the build-up to the Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton match on television ahead of WrestleMania 42.

McAfee had said before the match that if Randy failed to win his 15th WWE World Championship at WrestleMania 42 Night One, he would leave the wrestling business forever. As it turned out, Orton lost to Rhodes, and not just that, he also ended his association with McAfee by RKOing him.

On today’s Pat McAfee Show, the ESPN personality thanked WWE for allowing him into the wrestling business and said that he is grateful for the various responsibilities he performed over the years. He also gave Cody his flowers, admitting that The American Nightmare is “the real deal” and that the wrestling business doesn’t need saving.

Below are the highlights:

McAfee expresses gratitude toward the wrestling business

“The good news is, the business doesn’t need to be saved after all. And good for them. As for me, I finished my story. I came up in the indies, IWA East Coast. I went through development, NXT. I was a wrestler trained by Rip Rogers, the same guy that trained everybody that’s retiring, kind of currently out of OVW. Got to WWE, commentated; lucky to do that. Did pre-shows; lucky to do that. Wrestled; lucky to do that. Reffed, lucky to do that. Did pre-shows; lucky to do that. Managed; lucky to do that. It’s been a hell of a run. Thank you, wrestling! It was an honor to be there.”

On Randy Orton delivering him an RKO

“Maybe he didn’t know it was me, [but] it felt like he knew.”

McAfee apologizes for his previous statements and lauds Cody Rhodes

“And maybe I took it too far trying to motivate my friend by saying things I was saying. It was probably my fault because as I was trying to motivate Randy, I wanted him to know that everything was shit and he was the king. As it turns out, The American Nightmare still got the throne. That guy is a real deal, brother. I’ll press charges. All that is done. The wrestling business is kind of in the rearview mirror. And to the wrestling business, I’d like to say, ‘Thank you! Thank you so much. ’”

Check his comments below:

What's done is done..

Thank you to the wrestling business #PMSLive https://t.co/rYyaIV73mA pic.twitter.com/LcSJjQh5j6

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 20, 2026

Please credit The Pat McAfee Show and give an H/T to 411Mania for the transcription if you take quotes from this article.