‘Hell yeah!’ That was the reaction from fans when John Cena broke the championship record at WrestleMania 41. The wrestling phenomenon unleashed a flurry of punches and dragged opponents across the ring to claim his 17th WWE Championship, defeating Cody Rhodes. But you know who almost stole the show? NFL star-turned-broadcaster Pat McAfee, who got choked out by Gunther in a dramatic ringside clash.

It all started when Gunther stormed over to the announce table demanding justice for his match, and Pat McAfee responded by calling him “backup.” That didn’t sit well with the former Intercontinental Champion. Gunther shoved McAfee, and the former NFL punter retaliated with a push and a punch—only to get caught in a chokehold that lasted nearly 60 seconds. Viewers could clearly see the strain on McAfee’s face—it was a brutal moment.

But perhaps the most surprising part? Pat didn’t tap out. That defiance stood in contrast to a frequent jab Gunther receives from fans—“You tapped out!” It added a whole new layer of irony to the confrontation. The altercation originally sparked when Gunther, frustrated after his loss to Jey Uso, approached commentator Michael Cole, who was sitting next to McAfee at the broadcasting table. What began as a heated exchange quickly escalated.

And now, wrestling fans are buzzing with theories. Wrestling News Source noted, “It remains to be seen whether this altercation sets up a future in-ring showdown between McAfee and Gunther.” For context, the last time McAfee stepped into the WWE ring was at SummerSlam 2022, where he faced off against Baron Corbin. That bout was well-received, and fans wouldn’t mind seeing the ESPN analyst lace up his boots again.

However, McAfee is also preparing for NFL Draft season, with the annual event just days away. It’s been suggested that WWE may be giving him time off from television to focus on football coverage. But after posting two clips of the choke incident on X, fans couldn’t resist flooding his mentions with the same burning question.

Fans are calling out the same thing about Pat McAfee’s choke

For those who didn’t catch what happened. The two videos McAfee posted from that WrestleMania 41 moment are really blowing up now. And fans are flooding the comments with the same burning question. One fan asked, “How are you typing this, bruh? You almost died.” Another wrote, “How are you tweeting, bruh?” 

Someone else chimed in with concern and support: “Are you okay? Also, shoutout to your boys for having your back!! I saw Darius activating his cornerback training to get to Gunther” (referencing Darius Butler, McAfee’s friend and fellow analyst.)

Another fan actually congratulated Pat McAfee for not tapping out. The choke was so tight that Pat’s face turned red. So, after Pat himself posted those videos of a fight with Gunther, a fan commented, “I think I already know the angle for this.” And continued, “Gunther is upset about tapping out and notices how McAfee didn’t tap out. Now the next time McAfee talks about it, he’ll mention that he didn’t even tap out yet, Gunther did, and it was very quickly too.” 

Great, right? But more great were the reactions below this comment also. A female fan also said the same thing for McAfee’s choke, saying, “How are you typing Pat???” So, fans are still jokingly trolling the ESPN analyst. Either way, the moment left a lasting impression and set the stage for what might be a storyline continuation.

Let’s just hope McAfee’s neck is okay. As for the show? The fans loved it. WrestleMania 41 delivered on the drama, the spectacle, and the unexpected—and Pat McAfee’s ringside moment was right up there with the best of them.