VIDEO: Pat McAfee Was Phenomenal in Pro Wrestling Debut at NXT Takeover

Pat McAfee had his pro wrestling debut at NXT Takeover tonight in a match against Adam Cole, and this is going to sound super gushy but I can't remember an athlete or celebrity ever doing better in their debut match like this. Maybe Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow if you go back all the way to WrestleMania XI but this was the best one in recent memory -- definitely better than Rob Gronkowski, and I think also surpassing Ronda Rousey, who to give her credit really took well to the art of a pro wrestling match as well.

There were a couple of acrobatic spots that McAfee handled really well from an athletic perspective, like this flip off the top rope:

He also landed on his feet here on a backflip, and then pulled off a slam off the top rope:

These were high spots, but the whole match he had really good psychology and endurance. He had really strong instincts for the art of "selling" -- i.e. making it look like a real fight when you take a move from the opponent.

Whenever McAfee's next match in WWE is and whomever it's against, it's going to be booked as a real attraction.