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Pat McAfee Provides Training Update Ahead Of Gunther Match At WWE Backlash

WWE Raw color commentator Pat McAfee was in fighting mood when he gave fans an update about his training for his upcoming match against Gunther. McAfee says his cardio is "better than ever" heading into what will certainly be the most violent match of his short in-ring career.
Joe Baiamonte|
Pat McAfee comes to the aid of Michael Cole
Pat McAfee comes to the aid of Michael Cole | WWE.com

Pat McAfee is in a fighting mood.

The Monday Night Raw color commentator was keen to give fans an update on the training he has undertaken for his upcoming match against Gunther at WWE Backlash. And let's just hope his performance in St.Louis matches his confidence.

McAfee was choked out by the former World Heavyweight Champion on the Raw after WrestleMania 41, after initially coming to the aid of his broadcast partner Michael Cole. Gunther then turned his attentions to the former Indianapolis Colt and left him unconscious at ringside, unable to continue at the announce table.

In kayfabe, Gunther was indefinitely suspended for his actions by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce. But this past week on Raw, McAfee cut an impassioned, table top promo on Gunther, which led to interim GM Nick Aldis to making McAfee vs Gunther official for Backlash, on May 10.

McAfee is no stranger to being on the other side of the ropes, having competed in several matches in NXT, including a Wargames bout. He also emerged victorious at WrestleMania 38 at the expense of Austin Theory and handed The Miz an L a year later in an impromptu match at WrestleMania 39.

Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show yesterday, the Raw announcer showed off his in-studio wrestling ring and explained how hard he'd been training in preparation for his match with the Ring General.

Talking about his current training regime, McAfee said, "We got work to do before next Saturday night, at Backlash, where I fight an Austrian a**hole who's strong, tough, intimidating and a former World Champion as of a couple of weeks ago."

McAfee continued, "I got a lot of work to do. I'm gonna get better. We're all gonna get better and we're gonna enjoy the hell out of the process. I'd just like to let Gunther know that the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into that ring will all be worth it next Saturday in St. Louis at Backlash.

"When I walk in there I'm gonna be prepared. I've already been doing some flips. I've already done some bumps. I'm already feeling pretty good. Cardio is in a spot I think that is better than it has been before in some other matches that I've been in."

Gunther, on the other hand, does not seem to be taking the bout as seriously as McAfee, if his recent social media activity is anything to go by.

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Joe Baiamonte
JOE BAIAMONTE

Joe Baiamonte is a contributing writer for The Takedown On SI, joining the team in April, 2025. Joe has been covering professional wrestling, sports and entertainment for over a decade, serving as editor at SPORTbible between 2014 and 2018 - where he helped the team to three consecutive Football Blogging Awards - and as head of sport at Unilad. Joe has written for numerous outlets in the United Kingdom and United States, including The Sportsman, Sporf, Pubity, GiveMeSport and The Sportster, interviewing the likes of Neymar, Harry Kane, Ruud Gullit, Triple H, Ric Flair, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Rey Mysterio, Aaron Boone, Alex Cora, Chris Sale and Chase Uttley. He has a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism and Broadcasting from the University of Salford and currently resides in Manchester, England, having been raised just down the road in Burnley. He briefly moved to Croatia with his family after the birth of his son, where he spent an entire summer writing on the beach and eating squid.

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