PWInsider.com is reporting that Pat McAfee’s appearance yesterday at the Royal Rumble was kept as a surprise from pretty much everyone in the company.

The reactions from Michael Cole and Corey Graves were as real as they can get as the two were also not informed that they were having a third man to help out. Cole mentioned on commentary that he FaceTime’d McAfee earlier in the day and he was in a studio in Indianapolis.

Production crew were told about McAfee before he stepped out in front of the crowd, resulting in a mad dash to get the equipment for him prepped and another seat at the commentary table.

McAfee took a leave of absence from WWE a few months ago to do commentary for College GameDay. With college football done, he is free to return, and the plan was always to get him back after football was over.

WWE has not announced if McAfee will resume working for them on Friday Night Smackdown. Wade Barrett replaced McAfee when he left.