While fortune favors the bold, Pat McAfee may be in over his head after setting up a match against GUNTHER at WWE Backlash 2025.
The former NFL star and ESPN personality has demonstrated his in-ring skills in the past against the likes of Adam Cole and Austin Theory, but GUNTHER certainly poses his biggest threat yet.
Here are seven potential replacements on WWE Raw commentary for Pat McAfee should be become unavailable after Backlash 2025.
7. Wade Barrett
With a strong connection to fans and the stories that the current talent are telling, Wade Barrett is already becoming a fan favorite on the commentary desk.
After being featured on commentary on NXT from 2020 to 2022, Barrett moved to the main roster and has demonstrated his flexibility since going between both Raw and SmackDown throughout the years.
After calling his first WrestleMania along with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee for WrestleMania 41, Wade Barrett seems like the perfect fit.
The only issue with Barrett replacing McAfee would be that it may mean he’d have to move away from SmackDown where he currently partners Joe Tessitore.
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6. Booker T
Love him or loathe him on commentary, Booker T is very entertaining. Not only that – he and his signature voice are well known to audiences.
With a potential vacancy on WWE Raw on Netflix needing to be occupied, perhaps Booker T would be well suited to join Michael Cole on commentary.
Able to add his own unique takes to the action, the move wouldn’t need to be forever but could provide a fun way for recently called up NXT talent to also be presented really strong with Booker providing their backstory from their time in developmental.
Speaking of NXT commentators who could pop over to WWE Raw for a spell to drop stats about NXT…
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5. Vic Joseph
NXT commentator Vic Joseph has continued to demonstrate his skills on commentary, finding himself now on a three-man panel featuring Booker T and Corey Graves.
With Graves and Booker able to hold down the fort in NXT, it would be great to see the impeccable Joseph try his hand at calling some main roster moments for the first time since his short-lived Raw run in 2019.
Aligning with the changes to occur around/during the WWE Draft would be a very strategic way to bolster the NXT call-ups straight away.
Joseph being able to succinctly bring forward the key details about each NXT character’s history and stats could help establish a solid foundation for main roster fans’ understanding of the new stars.
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4. Corey Graves
The third member of the current NXT announce team, and perhaps the most likely to move to the WWE main roster, is Corey Graves.
Graves had called Raw and SmackDown for the best part of nine years before being moved to NXT at the start of 2025 – a decision he publicly voiced his displeasure about on social media.
If McAfee needs replacing, WWE knows Graves is more than capable of joining Cole, as they’ve already been partners for so many years.
Graves has even proven he can be the lead announcer for WWE’s premier shows, as that was his role alongside Wade Barrett on SmackDown for a while.
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3. Jelly Roll
Notable WWE fan and friend of Pat McAfee is music star Jelly Roll.
After Jelly Roll made an appearance at WWE SummerSlam 2024, he has since returned to WrestleMania 41 night one to sing God Bless America.
While the global music star may not be able to commit to many dates, it would be fun for WWE Raw on Netflix to be anchored by Michael Cole and another regular commentator with a revolving third guest who could be any celebrity with ties to WWE.
From the upcoming host of SummerSlam Cardi B to known WWE fans Vanessa Hudgens or Macaulay and/or Kieran Culkin – a little celebrity appearance can be fun for a season.
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2. Big E
While Big E continues to make appearances on panels ahead of premium live events as well as post-shows, he remains a fan favorite.
Since he has demonstrated his ability to stay connected to the fan experience as a viewer, he would be a great substitute for Pat McAfee.
Able to recreate the same joy and wonder that Pat demonstrates, Big E could also add technical knowledge or personal details to the storylines on screen.
Also, after his role in turning fans on New Day when they betrayed him, his eventual departure from the role could be written in order to boost the evil factor of any of the heels on the roster.
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1. CM Punk
Another veteran with experience on commentary is CM Punk.
While he is currently involved in storylines in active competition, his behavior on the microphone is no doubt a fan favorite.
If there were some storyline way that kept him from getting physical for a brief period of time but still allowed him to yap with as much vitriol as he pleases, it would probably be another iconic commentary run.
Particularly if WWE is in search of a viral moment to replace Pat McAfee’s star power on the commentary team, CM Punk would be able to deliver.
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