Drew McIntyre may have been away from WWE television for months, but don’t expect him to come crawling back begging for another opportunity. The Scottish Warrior says he’s in the best shape of his life, has been preparing for his eventual return, and believes WWE fans should be grateful when he finally decides to show up again.
During his appearance on the Raw Talk podcast, McIntyre discussed his extended WWE absence while working on multiple Hollywood projects. Although he has been busy filming movies, Drew made it clear he hasn’t forgotten about wrestling. In fact, he’s been putting in serious work to make sure he’s better than ever when he steps back between the ropes.
McIntyre explained that his recent training has completely changed his body. Despite expecting to lose weight while focusing on cardio and conditioning, the exact opposite happened. He’s gotten bigger, leaner and more flexible, and at 41 years old, he believes he’s moving better than he has in years.
“But it’s been the opposite. I’ve gotten bigger. I’ve gotten leaner. I’ve gotten more flexible. And I feel in the best shape of my life, which is bizarre.”
When asked how much longer he plans to wrestle, Drew said he doesn’t see himself slowing down anytime soon. He admitted there were periods when the wear and tear of his career started catching up with him, but those days appear to be behind him.
“As long as I enjoy it, I guess. As long as the fans are enjoying what I do. I can’t imagine slowing down. Like I say, I’ve never felt as physically good. There’s times where I felt really beat up like a couple of years ago and I was like, ‘Wow, I’m feeling my age and feeling like how long I’ve been wrestling,’ and now I just feel unbelievable.”
McIntyre also revealed that he’s been getting back inside the ring without an audience just to work on his speed and conditioning. He pointed to a recent social media video of himself running the ropes that generated more than 10 million views across his platforms. According to Drew, even his trainer was surprised by how much his movement had improved compared to his last stretch in WWE.
“And my trainer was there and he’s been watching me and coming to shows the past year, year plus. And he’s like, ‘The way you’re moving in the ring.’ I was wrestling barefoot as well, rolling around all over the place. He was like, ‘You were not moving like this before. Like, I don’t know what you moved like when you were younger, but you were not moving like this when you were last wrestling.'”
Naturally, all that preparation raises the question of when McIntyre will actually return to WWE. Unfortunately for fans looking for a specific date, Drew wasn’t interested in giving one away. Instead, he teased that his return could happen sooner or later, while making it clear that Hollywood remains his immediate focus.
“So, I can’t wait till people can see, you know, how I am in the ring, how I’m moving now. And, you know, maybe I’ll be back soon. Maybe I’ll be back later, but for now, we’re focused on Hollywood Drew.”
But Drew wasn’t finished. He immediately followed that up with a warning about what WWE fans can expect when he finally comes back. Apparently, anybody hoping for a humble, grateful McIntyre might want to forget about that idea right now.
“When I come back, cuz I will be talking about it non-stop. Your ears are going to bleed how much I’m going to talk about it and how much people should be grateful that I’m back cuz I don’t need WWE and the fans now. Y’all need me.”
That’s certainly one way to remind everybody that you’re coming back. McIntyre’s comments come as he’s been building his acting career outside the wrestling business. He’s worked on Highlander alongside Henry Cavill and landed another movie opportunity involving Russell Crowe. Despite those commitments, McIntyre has maintained that professional wrestling remains his top priority.
His extended absence has also been made possible by WWE’s willingness to accommodate those opportunities. McIntyre explained during the interview that Triple H supported his decision to remain away from television longer so he could take another major movie role.
Of course, Drew has never been shy about telling WWE fans exactly what he thinks of them, especially since embracing a more antagonistic version of his character. Now he’s got a new reason to brag, and the fact that he’s finding success outside WWE only gives him more material to throw in everybody’s faces.
McIntyre hasn’t given fans a date to circle on their calendars, but one thing is pretty obvious: whenever he does return, he’s not planning to act like WWE did him a favor by bringing him back. He’s already telling the company and its audience that they’re the ones who need him, and he’s apparently going to make sure nobody forgets it.
Do you think WWE needs Drew McIntyre back on television, or has the company been doing just fine without him? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback in the comments section below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
