The crowd at Enterprise Center was still buzzing from the undercard when a familiar voice cut through the chaos—this time not from the commentary desk, but from the ring. Pat McAfee, suited not in a blazer but in boots, had laced up for war. The cheers turned into gasps as fans realized the former NFL punter wasn’t just showing up for Backlash. He was stepping inside the ropes with the man they call “The Ring General.” And what unfolded next reminded everyone why McAfee never does anything halfway.

There are very few athletes who’ve carved out success in two punishing sports, and even fewer who’ve done it with Pat McAfee’s flair. After eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and two Pro Bowl nods, the punter-turned-broadcaster has reinvented himself in WWE—equal parts analyst, hype man, and surprise competitor. But on Saturday, May 10, McAfee reminded fans that behind the microphone is still a fighter at heart.

At the 20th WWE Backlash event in St. Louis, McAfee entered the ring against none other than former Intercontinental Champion Gunther—among the most dominant forces in WWE today. The outcome? Painful but valiant. Gunther secured the win with a brutal sleeper hold that forced the referee to stop the match once McAfee lost consciousness. But even in defeat, the NFL legend made a statement.

Posting a clip of the match on X, McAfee proudly declared, “Never tapped aht. #WWEBacklash,” a nod to the fact that he never submitted, even as Gunther’s chokehold tightened. The footage shows McAfee refusing to drop his arm, standing up mid-hold, and resisting with everything he had before finally collapsing. Ringside announcer Michael Cole’s voice cracked with emotion as the official called the match.

It wasn’t just a reflection of his grit — it read like a not-so-subtle jab at Gunther himself, who just weeks earlier had tapped out to Jey Uso in a moment that shattered his aura of invincibility. For McAfee, the message was clear: even in defeat, he didn’t fold.

In wrestling, perception matters as much as results. And while Gunther walked away with the win, McAfee left with something else — respect, defiance, and a headline that kept him firmly in the conversation.

Pat McAfee wins hearts with his defiant performance

SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis was the one who made it a reality. When Gunther confronted Cole over their liking for Jey Uso on the Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, the NFL legend had to step in for his colleague. Although he couldn’t secure victory over the former WWE champion, he won fans’ love.

The NFL star even posted an IG story after the match, showing his bruised and battered. He first hugged Cole, who tried to console him. But with a look of disappointment, he looked at the crowd, who gave him a standing ovation and clapped in respect. Pat McAfee also wrote, “I tried my best…Stand up for your people.”

The heart he showed in the fight reminded everyone of the famous Mark Twain quote, “It is not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the fight in the dog that wins.” Even though he lost the match, he won something every WWE start aspires to win. Fans’ love and admiration!