‘We’re screwed’ – Pat McAfee given stern backstage WWE warning over controversial Netflix stunt

In WWE the cameras are always rolling.

Gone are the days of the early 1990s when fans had to wait a week for their weekly dose of one hour of wrestling action on TV.

The likes of Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior would grunt and groan their way through the likes of Superstars or Wrestling Challenge, with the occasional dose of Saturday Night’s Main Event thrown in.

In 2026, things could barely be any more different. Monday Night Raw bags three hours of Netflix streaming time each week, while SmackDown and NXT are each roughly two hours long.

That gives a devoted WWE fan eight hours of content to consume before they even consider breakout programming, social media or, as is now the way, the coveted documentary.

The crown of that particular genre is WWE’s Unreal, which recently dropped for a second season on Netflix.

To say it goes beyond the curtain is an understatement – wrestlers’ every word or movement backstage is filmed while crews have unprecedented access to the writers’ room to get a glimpse of the creative process of building the muscle-bound soap opera.

In apparent contrast to that, though, the illusion of WWE is kept alive and well to the watching audience – even if a docuseries on the same platform then smashes a gaping hole through it.

McAfee hit with stern backstage order

Just ask Pat McAfee. The NFL favourite turned occasional commentator and wrestler had to be given a stark reminder to keep up the pretence of kayfabe – the illusion that what fans see is real and genuine – during one brutal moment during WrestleMania season.

McAfee had been choked out by Gunther at ringside as part of their build to a match together at the company’s follow-up event to Mania, Backlash.

It was a stunt that made headlines. McAfee turning a bright shade of red and purple such was the apparent hold the Ring General had on him.

The discomfort he felt was real enough – in one scene, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, WWE’s Head of Creative, is seen barking orders from backstage: “Tell Gunther to not let that f****** thing go,” as the grappler clamped his hold on McAfee.

Netflix/WWE

Pat made it back to his feet eventually and ordinarily might have been able to relax once the cameras stopped rolling. In this instance, there was no such relief thanks to the relentless filming of Unreal which was ready and waiting.

Concerned the GameDay broadcaster would forget himself, an animated Triple H followed up from backstage with urgency: “Tell the referee to tell him that he has to keep working the whole time – he can’t stop working backstage.

“Has somebody told him that? I don’t see anybody telling him that.

“If he goes out of character when he comes backstage we’re screwed.”

On screen authority figure Adam Pearce, helping McAfee away from the ring, deftly relayed the instructions to the star – who then was struck with a fit of doubts as to his ability to keep it up.

He explained: “I was being told literally by Adam Pearce who’s standing next to me with his arms here: ‘We are still live; we are still live!’

Netflix

Netflix/WWE

“In my eyes, as a fan of wrestling, [usually at that stage] the arena’s going dark, and we’ve got a video package playing or a commercial, and we’re back [on the air] on the other side, and I’m gonna be gone.

“So the fact they stayed live on me after getting choked out, all the way to the back, I’m like: ‘I dunno if I’m that good of an actor, brother! I’m gonna be exactly how I feel right now.’”

Cameras did indeed follow McAfee from the floor of ringside – and Gunther’s grasp – all the way to a backstage office and away from the glare.

McAfee handed huge praise by boss

The segment did its job in driving fan interest in a fight between the two, which Gunther ultimately won comfortably.

McAfee’s involvement was key, felt Levesque, who explained in the episode just how vital the 38-year-old has become to WWE.

“Pat McAfee is the face of the WWE to a lot of people,” he added.
“Pat’s association with us goes back quite a way. I was vaguely aware of who he was. I knew he was a kicker for the Colts.

Netflix

Netflix

“It has been incredible to see him go from, like, little podcaster to NFL stuff to ESPN, to like, just keep blowing up along the way.”

McAfee, primarily used in WWE as a commentator, has wrestled eight matches for the company, making his debut in 2020.