The WWE announce teams have gone through some major shakeups over the last few years and Pat McAfee officially joined Michael Cole at the Raw announce booth back in January. However, Pat McAfee took a break from WWE following Money in the Bank, and since then McAfee has since openly admitted that he was burnt out.
Fightful Select reports that when Corey Graves publicly vented his frustration over being sent to NXT earlier this year a WWE higher up sympathized with him. One source noted that Corey’s versatility was a gift and a curse as the company knew that he could be slotted in anywhere, on any show.
Even after the move was made a WWE higher up noted they expected him back on Raw or SmackDown by spring or summer due to the revolving door at the commentary table.
It’s being said that Pat McAfee is very well liked in WWE circles, and that he always approaches his work for the company with respect. WWE sources expect that the relationship between McAfee and WWE will continue. The belief is that WWE fans will see McAfee again, but it’s not clear how regular of a role he will have.
The expectation among those who spoke on McAfee’s status was that WWE would have lost him anyway around August or September as football season is big for McAfee and his team.