Pat McAfee Loses to Gunther at WWE Backlash 2025, Still Gets Standing Ovation

Gunther defeated WWE Raw commentator and former NFL punter Pat McAfee in a grudge match at Backlash on Saturday.

McAfee may have lost the fight, but he continued to win over the WWE Universe's hearts—and the respect of Gunther.

The two big men traded blows throughout the match, but the crowd was clearly behind McAfee, who received the loudest pop of the night after breaking out of The Ring General's submission.

McAfee's fellow broadcaster, Michael Cole, got involved, leading to a near-fall as McAfee put Gunther in a chokehold. However, it was the former world heavyweight champion who ultimately secured the win.

After dropping the title to Jey Uso on Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, Gunther went on a rampage during the ensuing episode of Raw two days later.

The Ring General confronted McAfee and Cole, seemingly expressing his dismay over their favoritism for Uso on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Gunther grabbed Cole and attempted to choke him out when McAfee intervened and managed to get his colleague out of the predicament.

However, McAfee put himself in harm's way and paid the price, as the Austrian locked him in a sleeper and choked him out before referees and backstage officials were able to break it up.

McAfee struggled to catch his breath as he slowly left the ringside area, and he did not return for the remainder of the show. Cole called the rest of it alongside Joe Tessitore, condemning Gunther's actions in the process.

Raw general manager Adam Pearce fined The Ring General and suspended him indefinitely for his actions, so he was not present the following week when McAfee got on the mic to address what happened.

Amid a passionate promo, the former Indianapolis Colts player called for Gunther to be reinstated so he could make him pay for what he did to both him and Cole.

SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was filling in for Pearce, did not agree to that request, but he did bring up the idea of Gunther and McAfee facing each other in an officially sanctioned match at Backlash.

That decision ultimately worked in Gunther's favor, as he took the fight to McAfee again and secured a much-needed victory on the heels of his WrestleMania loss.

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