Drew McIntyre Confirms WWE Absence Wasn’t Due to Injury

Drew McIntyre had been absent from WWE television since Saturday Night’s Main Event back in May. Reports suggested that McIntyre’s absence was due to injury but it turns out that wasn’t the case at all.

While speaking to Sports Illustrated, Drew McIntyre explained that his recent absence from WWE television wasn’t due to an injury but was actually planned time off. During those five or six weeks away, he stepped back, took a hard look at the wrestling landscape, and evaluated everything that had been happening.

That time gave him a new mindset, and now he’s back with the goal of becoming WWE Champion again, determined to get what he believes he deserves and has earned.

“Now that I’ve been out for 5 weeks, 6 weeks, I’ve taken a step back. I’ve looked at the landscape. I’ve seen what’s been happening recently and I’ve come back with a new mindset. I’m back to get what’s mine. It’s time for Drew McIntyre to be WWE Champion again. Get what I deserve. Get what I’ve earned.”

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The Scottish Warrior said the best part about this break was that it didn’t involve rehab since he was healthy and able to fully step away. He watched the product closely, noted what he didn’t like, and even rewatched his own performances. That’s when he realized he hadn’t truly been giving it everything he could.

Even though people praised his incredible 2024 and pointed out he already looked better than most of the roster, Drew admitted he had never really followed a diet or had a personal trainer pushing him. Over the last five weeks, that changed since he brought in professionals to help him reach another level.

Now when fans see him take his shirt off for the first time since Saturday Night’s Main Event, he promises they’ll be shocked at how much he’s evolved. Drew admitted he had unknowingly been holding back before, but from this point on, he’s bringing a completely evolved version of himself.

“The good thing about this time off, no rehab, actual planned time off. Took a step back, watched the product, seen what I didn’t like, and I watched myself and I went, ‘Wow, I wasn’t giving it my all.’ And some people would say, ‘But Drew, you had this incredible 2024. You look better than 95% of the guys.’ I’ve never followed a diet in my life. I’ve never had a personal trainer on my ass my entire life. I brought them in the past 5 weeks. When you see Drew McIntyre with his shirt off for the first time at Saturday Night’s Main Event, you’re going to go, ‘Oh my god, how did this guy evolve even more than where he was at already?’ And I legitimately was holding back in a lot of ways I didn’t realize.”

McIntyre made it clear he’s no longer competing with guys like Cody Rhodes, John Cena, or Roman Reigns; he’s only competing with Drew McIntyre, and he doesn’t believe anyone else will be able to keep up.

“I’m bringing an evolved Drew McIntyre, ’cause I’m not competing with Cody or Cena or Roman or anyone else. From now on, I’m competing with Drew McIntyre and nobody’s going to be able to keep up with me.”

This comes after reports Indicated Drew McIntyre was out of action due to nagging injuries but that clearly wasn’t the case. Nonetheless, McIntyre returned on the July 4th edition of SmackDown and is now set to face off against Randy Orton at Saturday Night’s Main Event this week, so we’ll have to see how he will fare against The Viper.

How do you think Drew McIntyre’s current run in WWE will turn out since he wasn’t injured in the first place? Sound off in the comments.

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