Pat McAfee's return to WWE was a legitimate surprise to just about everyone inside the company, PWInsider.com has learned.
It was kept very close to the vest in order to prevent it from leaking out.
We are told that not even the majority of the company's production team was clued in before McAfee made his way to the ring, prompting a quick scramble to grab a new chair and headset for McAfee so he could join Michael Cole and Corey Graves on the call last night.
PWInsider.com is also told Cole and Graves were also not clued in as they had prepared to call the show alone themselves last night. Their reactions to McAfee's return were very much legitimate surprise.
There is no word yet whether McAfee's return will lead to him being back on Smackdown weekly.