As WWE settles in with its new Raw and SmackDown rosters and gets things in place for Night of Champions and beyond, one big name who has been conspicuous by his absence is Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior hasn’t wrestled since he unsuccessfully tried to win the Intercontinental Championship from Gunther in a match that also involved Sheamus on night two of WrestleMania 39.
McIntyre was drafted to Raw a few weeks ago but has yet to make an appearance. He caused a bit of a stir among fans online last month when he removed WWE references from his Twitter bio and blacked out his profile pic, a status quo that remains in effect today.
Naturally, that led to speculation that McIntyre was looking to leave WWE. While that’s still possible, Dave Meltzer reported in his latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required) that he’s expected to return, at least for now, and that the holdup is “basically more a creative issue regarding what they want, what he wants, and when they agree to it.”
The longer term uncertainty about his future is because according to Meltzer, the two sides have yet to agree on a new deal and that his time of inactivity can be used to extend his current contract if WWE desires. The report also states that “McIntyre to the best of our knowledge has not asked to leave.”
Going elsewhere worked out for the best for McIntyre in the past, as he had stalled out in WWE in 2014 and ended up being released. He spent the next three years performing in TNA and various indie promotions and returned to WWE in 2017 a much more viable main event caliber talent.
The circumstances are different now. If McIntyre were to head to, say, AEW, he would be presented as a major incoming star. But the expectation is that he’ll stay put, at least for now, and potentially help fill the need for more top level heels — though he continues to be listed as a face for the time being.
The bigger question is whether he’ll ever get a world championship run in a non-pandemic setting. McIntyre’s fans would no doubt love to see that, and it appears there’s still a chance for it once everything gets worked out.