A long-time WWE star has revealed how Triple H pulled off a huge rib on them live on television at the 2023 Royal Rumble.
The 2023 Royal Rumble proved to be a night of high drama as Sami Zayn was finally backed into a corner by Roman Reigns with the Honorary Uce turning on his Tribal Chief via a chair shot to the back. What followed was a vicious beatdown on Zayn by Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa. Jey Uso could only walk away and has since signalled he might be done with The Bloodline.
The Rumble matches themselves provided their own surprises with Chelsea Green and Nia Jax both returning to WWE in the women’s match while Booker T made an unexpected appearance in the men’s bout. There weren’t too many shocks about who won those matches with Rhea Ripley and Cody Rhodes both booking their places at WrestleMania 39.
The night began with a surprise as Pat McAfee made his return to the announce desk with commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves as surprised as anyone by his appearance.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Michael Cole discussed how McAfee’s arrival had been kept a secret from him and even when the music hit, Cole didn’t recognise it straight away:
“When the music hit, because when I think Pat McAfee, I still think of White Stripes, so, when the first couple of bars of the new song hit, I didn’t immediately recognize it.
“Then Hunter, Paul Levesque (Triple H) was in my ear, and he said, ‘Are you gonna sell it?’ I mouthed to him in the spy cam, ‘Sell what?’ I’m like, ‘Sell what?’
“Then I looked up and I saw your video board, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, you’re ribbing me.’”
Michael Cole then noted he had some choice words for both Triple H and Executive Producer Kevin Dunn in a text message he sent the pair:
“You f***ers, I can’t believe that you guys ribbed me.”
Pat McAfee has been missing for several months after he landed a role on ESPN’s College Game Day that airs on Saturday mornings during the football season.