Former NFL punter and ESPN personality Pat McAfee found himself in the middle of Saturday night’s main event at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. McAfee played a role in the match between WWE champion Cody Rhodes and challenger Randy Orton.
McAfee’s appearance, though, didn’t get rave reviews from those in attendance or watching on TV.
Pat McAfee’s WrestleMania 42 Appearance Draws Mixed Reaction
McAfee interjected himself in the beginning of the match, got put through a table by singer Jelly Roll, and then was stretchered out. Later, though, McAfee returned and ran down the long ramp after WWE referee Charles Robinson was knocked out.
ESPN carried WrestleMania 42 on its app on Saturday night. ESPN’s ‘SportsCenter’ account on X shared a video of Jelly Roll’s leap onto McAfee. This all felt very forced to promote one of the brand’s main personalities, and many WWE observers were critical of the storyline.
JELLY ROLL JUST PUT PAT MCAFEE THROUGH THE TABLE 🤯 #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/Zv48Y1QSRM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 19, 2026
Mark Nagi, the author of “Decade of Dysfunction: The Road to Tennessee’s Crazy Coaching Search,” asked on X: “Wrestling fans help me out… are they even trying anymore? Or being married to ESPN now they are stuck with the branding stuff…”
Podcaster Phil Doucet reacted to the video of McAfee getting squashed by Jelly Roll, writing posted on X, “Is this really what wrestling has come to?”
“Sad day when pro wrestlers aren’t good enough to make people watch, so you have to use celebrities from other professions to gain viewers…” one user said. “I miss the attitude era.”
National NFL analyst Lindsey Ok summed up the McAfee-Jelly Roll moment with five words: “Who is asking for this?”
Who is asking for this https://t.co/9JITdrp580
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) April 19, 2026
Others were more excited about the moment. ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky simply posted one word on his account on X: “McAfee!!!!!”
Nick Harris, who covers the Dallas Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, posted on X, “I just know this is 2016 Finals Game 7 to someone in the Midwest.”
Alex Golden, who covers the Indiana Pacers for Sports Illustrated, pointed out that McAfee’s close friend Tyrese Haliburton was right near the table as the moment happened.
“Tyrese Haliburton got a front row seat to see Jelly Roll put his man Pat McAfee through a table,” Golden said before sharing a photo.
Tyrese Haliburton got a front row seat to see Jelly Roll put his man Pat McAfee through a table. https://t.co/S8jtbSr42K pic.twitter.com/2pRp5w7nFQ
— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) April 19, 2026
On3Sports college football analyst Josh Pate also seemed to enjoy the moment, putting up a freeze-frame shot of Jelly Roll in mid-air before landing on McAfee.
“What a time to be alive,” Pate posted on X.
WrestleMania 42 continues on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
