Drew McIntyre already has some pretty big ideas for what happens when he finally returns to WWE, and they could end with another world championship around his waist. While McIntyre still isn’t saying exactly when he’ll be back, he believes the story he’s planning to tell will eventually have to involve the world title.
Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, McIntyre opened up about the unfinished business still waiting for him in WWE. CM Punk remains firmly on that list, but Drew also singled out Roman Reigns as his “kryptonite” because he’s never been able to get that elusive pinfall victory over him.
“Obviously, the Punk stuff will live forever because he’s genuinely a piece of crap. I can’t stand him. Any opportunity I get to tear him apart on the mic or beat him up in the ring without getting put in jail is awesome. And the Bloodline—that Roman is my kryptonite. I’ve never got that pin on him. And we’ve had so many massive battles over the years.”
McIntyre’s issues go beyond Roman himself, though. He still hasn’t forgotten how members of The Bloodline repeatedly got involved in his championship matches, and he even took a shot at Jey Uso while looking back at how much those interferences cost him.
“And his stupid, stupid family that constantly screw me over of every world title. If you watch any world title I’ve lost over the past—since 2022, it’s been directly related to it. Actually, no, since 2020. I lost the match with Roman here because of Jey, so that idiot as well. Can’t formulate a sentence. He just waves his hands.”
Drew also made it clear that he’s not interested in simply forgetting everything that happened because fans now feel differently about some of the people involved. He specifically pointed back to losing in front of his family and more than 50,000 fans in the UK as something he’s never going to brush aside.
“And everyone’s like, ‘Oh, we love him now, Drew. We love him now, Drew.’ And, like, you know, he does that thing. He can’t speak, but he does that hand thing. You should just forgive him, even though he ruined your life. And Roman took six months off and he got abs, drank some margaritas, came back. You should forgive them. I was like, ‘They ruined my life. They screwed me over in front of 50,000 of my own people in the UK, in front of my whole family. You think we’re just going to forgive people? No.’”
For McIntyre, that’s also part of what makes WWE storytelling different these days. He believes characters don’t have to suddenly forget years of history just because alliances and fan reactions have changed.
“The funny thing about wrestling now is we don’t forget anymore. It’s not good and bad. It’s shades of gray. It’s real life. You screw me over, I’ll never, ever forget.”
That eventually led to McIntyre being asked whether there were any championships or match types he still wanted to pursue. Drew said winning another title isn’t actually the first thing on his mind because the story comes first, but he expects those two things to eventually collide.
“I mean, number one is the story. I mean, that’s what I care about first and foremost, but I do believe some big stories will come hand in hand with the heavyweight title once again.”
McIntyre then dropped the biggest hint yet about what he has in mind for his eventual comeback. Without revealing exactly what the storyline will be, Drew said he believes it will be compelling enough that keeping him away from the world championship would actually hold it back.
“I think once I get really into the story where I’m thinking I’m going to go, once I decide to come back, I really think it’s going to have to lead to the world title because it’s going to be such compelling stuff, and it’s going to hold the story back if I’m not the one with the title saying, ‘You need me, and I need this because I know what’s best for you.’”
McIntyre has been away from WWE television since WrestleMania 42 while building up his Hollywood résumé, and he’s been careful not to reveal when that absence will end. He recently said he’s keeping himself in ring shape at 285 pounds but is currently focused on “Hollywood Drew,” even as speculation continues about his eventual WWE comeback.
Drew still isn’t giving away the story he has in mind, but he’s certainly setting some big expectations for it. If things gothe way he believes they will, his return won’t simply be about getting back on WWE television—it could put him right back into the world title picture.
What do you think Drew McIntyre has planned for his WWE return, and should it lead to another world championship run? Let us know in the comments 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.
