Pat McAfee Fires Back at CM Punk Following WWE Raw Promo

Pat McAfee has responded to CM Punk following a contentious segment on the April 6, 2026, episode of WWE RAW. The exchange follows a fiery promo delivered by the World Heavyweight Champion that targeted several figures, including McAfee and WWE management.

During the April 6 broadcast at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, CM Punk used the opening segment to address his upcoming championship defense at WrestleMania 42 against Roman Reigns. However, Punk shifted his focus to McAfee, who has recently become entangled in a major WWE rivalry.

The Conflict on Monday Night Raw

The tension stems from McAfee’s recent alignment with Randy Orton. McAfee has supported The Viper as Orton pursues the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. This involvement included an appearance on SmackDown on April 3, 2026, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, where McAfee punted Cody Rhodes.

Punk’s promo on April 6 criticized McAfee’s late entry into the feud and his presence in the narrative just weeks before WrestleMania 42. Punk also used the platform to demand that ticket prices for WrestleMania be lowered and took aim at Vince McMahon.

The World Heavyweight Champion’s remarks sparked immediate reaction across social media, particularly from wrestling fans who expressed aggravation over McAfee’s insertion into the storyline.

McAfee’s Response

Pat McAfee did not wait long to address the comments. Speaking on his ESPN program and utilizing X, McAfee fired back with a scathing response to the champion’s remarks.

Prior to the RAW episode, McAfee had expressed a desire to change the wrestling business for the better, citing a wish for the industry to return to the style of the Attitude Era. He stated that individuals like himself had been forgotten about.

McAfee further intensified the conflict during his Monday afternoon show, where he directed a swipe at the internet wrestling community, referring to them as dips—s. He also questioned why there were still tickets available for the upcoming WrestleMania event.

WrestleMania 42 Context

The verbal sparring occurs amidst a high-stakes period for the WWE roster as they prepare for WrestleMania 42. The current landscape includes several key matchups and storylines:

• CM Punk is set to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns.
• Randy Orton is pursuing the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes.
• Pat McAfee has formally aligned himself with Randy Orton in the lead-up to the event.

The friction between Punk and McAfee adds a secondary layer of conflict to the event, as the champion’s frustration with the broadcaster’s role in the Orton-Rhodes feud clashes with McAfee’s own assertions about the direction of the business.