Drew McIntyre says WWE’s creative process under Triple H is far more collaborative than many fans probably realize, and sometimes he’ll even abandon the plan completely if the live crowd tells him it’s not working.
While speaking on Raw Talk, Drew McIntyre explained that while Triple H and WWE’s creative team map out the overall direction of a storyline, they don’t dictate every word that comes out of his mouth.
“These days, it’s very much a collaboration and has been for a few years now—with myself personally anyway, and generally across the board. If you know your character, you can work with the writers, etc., and get the character into the story. The writers, the creative team, Triple H leading the creative team, they kind of set out, ‘Here’s the story, here’s what we’re thinking, here’s who we’re thinking you’re going to work with, and this is where we’d like to get to.’”
McIntyre said that’s only the starting point. Once the direction is established, he works closely with WWE to make sure everything fits the version of Drew McIntyre that fans see on television. If something doesn’t feel authentic, he isn’t afraid to push back.
“Then it goes week to week. Like, how we get there, that’s kind of a collaboration. Like, when I go out there and I’ve got an interview and the microphone, I’m not getting handed a piece of paper that says, ‘Here’s what you’re saying. Here’s all the words you’re saying,’ because that’s what Drew McIntyre would say. Because my response, which I’ve said in real life, is, ‘No, you wouldn’t. What do you mean? I’m Drew McIntyre. I know what I would say.’”
The Scottish Warrior added that those conversations continue until everyone is on the same page because he believes fans can immediately tell when a performer doesn’t believe what they’re saying.
“So, we have to go back and forth about what we want in the paper, where we’re going next, and make sure it’s in line with what’s in my head. Because if I don’t believe it, sure as hell the fans are not going to believe it… So, we very much work together every step of the way to create, you know, the storylines of where we’re going and make sure we’re getting the right emotional reaction.”
Even after all that planning, McIntyre says the live audience always has the final say. If the crowd isn’t reacting the way WWE expected, he’ll change course on the fly—even if that means explaining himself to Triple H afterwards.
“Then on top of that, you’re in front of a live crowd. Sometimes they don’t react to the stuff on the paper, and I’m very much the big ad-libber, and sometimes it gets me a big slap on the wrist when I get to the back or a high five, like, ‘Good move out there.’
It’s one thing—Triple H is waiting for you when he’s angry, but if he’s happy, it’s a very good feeling. But when I’m out there, if the 20,000 people aren’t digging what I’m saying, I’ll listen and I’ll take a different direction. And sometimes it’s the opposite of what we talked about because it didn’t feel right out there.”
Drew McIntyre said that’s simply part of performing live. Rather than forcing the original script, he’ll trust the crowd’s reaction and sort everything else out once he gets backstage.
“I’ll see what’s happening. The crowd reacts the right way. They’re giving you real-time feedback… So I’ll go a different route. I’ll get back, we’ll talk about it.”
McIntyre’s comments offer one of the clearest looks yet at how WWE creative operates under Triple H. While the destination of a storyline may already be planned out, he says performers are trusted to help shape the journey—and if 20,000 fans tell him something isn’t working, he’s willing to rewrite the moment in real time.
Do you prefer WWE’s more collaborative approach under Triple H, or should promos stick closer to the original creative plan? 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.
