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Return at the Royal Rumble said to be a “legitimate surprise” to people within WWE

Aaron Rift

Pat McAfee was expected back on WWE television following the end of football season and he was even rumored to be returning at the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. Despite that, Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com is reporting that McAfee’s commentary return at the Rumble was a “legitimate surprise” to people inside the company and an effort was made to prevent plans from leaking out.

Johnson noted the following…

“We are told that not even the majority of the company’s production team was clued in before McAfee made his way to the ring, prompting a quick scramble to grab a new chair and headset for McAfee so he could join Michael Cole and Corey Graves on the call last night.”

Johnson added that Cole and Graves had prepared to call the show by themselves and were not expecting McAfee to appear. McAfee wrote the following about his return via Twitter…

“That was awesome. Massive thank you to the folks of the WWE Universe that were in that AlamoDome.. I’ll remember that ‘hello’ forever 🙏🏻. So grateful to be back tonight..shahtaht @MichaelCole & @WWEGraves. GREAT to see the WWE family backstage again. 🗣I’ve missed everyone.”