Steve Austin thinks Pat McAfee can fall back on WWE if new ESPN deal doesn't work out
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin believes Pat McAfee has a fallback option in the squared circle if things don’t work out as planned at the Worldwide Leader.
Earlier this week, McAfee made waves in the sports media landscape, when it was announced the former West Virginia Mountaineers and Indianapolis Colts punter’s self-titled show “The Pat McAfee Show” is headed to ESPN. After many years of broadcasting the show on YouTube and leveraging the immense popularity into a deal with FanDuel, ESPN has come calling.
It’s a gigantic move, and one that many believe will work out for both McAfee and ESPN, but Austin believes McAfee has a solid backup plan in the WWE if things ever go south.
“Pat has a natural feel for the business,” Austin said, via TMZ Sports. “Epic performer. Great on the stick. Athletically, that match he had with [Austin] Theory was awesome.”
Of course, McAfee has a past in professional wrestling, serving as the color-commentator on WWE SmackDown for the better part of a year, and having multiple matches at WrestleMania. Arguably his most memorable moment between the ropes featured taking a Stone Cold Stunner from Austin, followed by being seen trying to drink a beer while laying on the ground in pain, which was immediately turned into a viral meme.
Having the Texas Rattlesnake in your corner is as good as gold in WWE, and it’s certain McAfee has that at the moment.
“I think he’s amazing,” Austin added. “He’s very entertaining. And, as a human being, I like him a whole lot.”
Luckily for McAfee, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro shares Austin’s sentiment, as he explained how excited he is to add McAfee to the company following the news breaking.
“Pat is a proven talent. He and his team have built The Pat McAfee Show into one of the most engaging programs in sports and all of media,” Pitaro said in a statement. “It’s a destination for athlete interviews and breaking news, and the centerpiece of a growing community of sports fans.
“We’re honored to bring Pat and the show to ESPN through a multifaceted, multiplatform approach.”
Alas, it’s a good time to be Pat McAfee. He has supporters at both ESPN and WWE, but the former is where he’ll call home moving forward. Whether that closes his chapter in professional wrestling remains to be seen, but that’s part of the fun of the whole thing.