Pat McAfee Joins WWE SmackDown Announce Team

WWE's big announcer reshuffle continues with Pat McAfee's move to SmackDown.

Pat McAfee
WWE.com

Pat McAfee has just been named as the latest member of the WWE SmackDown announce team.

McAfee broke the news himself, uploading the following clip featuring Vince McMahon, Michael Cole, and Adam Pearce on Twitter:-

The former NFL Punter of the Decade starts from tonight. He'll take Corey Graves' place alongside Michael Cole in the SmackDown booth, joining the veteran play-by-play man as an analyst.

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This is the latest step in WWE's commentary reshuffle, following on from Tom Phillips being moved from Raw to 205 Live, with former ESPN sportscaster Adnan Virk taking his spot. Virk, Graves, and Byron Saxton now comprise the Monday night team.

WWE's official statement features the following comments from McAfee:-

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“For as long as I can remember WWE has been a company that I have admired, both for its incredible staying power of creating riveting entertainment and for its ability to connect people all over the globe. I’ve been fortunate to try a lot of cool professions but working for WWE was the one I looked forward to most. I am incredibly honored and grateful for the chance to give back to the business that has given me and many others so much and having the opportunity to sit at the same table that legends have graced is truly a dream come true. Now let’s go get it.”

The 33-year-old has been with WWE since 2018, initially working as an analyst before moving into a bigger onscreen role last year, highlighted by his acclaimed match with Adam Cole at TakeOver XXX in August.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.