When Drew McIntyre made his debut in 2007, he was handpicked by then-CEO Vince McMahon to be the future WWE Champion. McIntyre’s first run in the company started well as he dominated other talents and pulled out all the stops to climb to the top and grab the proverbial brass ring. However, his reign of dominance was short-lived as he was reduced to a jobber as time passed. McIntyre blames nobody but himself for his downfall in his first run as he stated in an interview with “My Love Letter To Wrestling” that he wasted a lot of time partying instead of working hard on himself.
McIntyre was then released from the company in 2014. Four years later, Mcintyre returned to WWE with a better attitude and physique. His transformation substantiated the hard work he put in while being away from the company. The Scottish wrestler’s rise to the top began in 2020 after he shocked the world after winning the Royal Rumble match.
Drew McIntyre reveals he did not know he was booked to win the Royal Rumble until the day of the event
The Royal Rumble match from 2020 was special for many reasons. The then-WWE Champion Brock Lesnar shocked the fans by injecting himself into the Rumble match and decimating almost half the participants.
With a total of 13 eliminations, it appeared Lesnar would win the Rumble until Drew McIntyre entered the match and Claymore kicked him into his elimination.
Speaking on Faction 919, McIntyre revealed that he was informed that he was going to win the match on the day of the event. According to him, he was happy to learn that he would have the chance to work with Lesnar in the ring.
“I got there on the day, heard rumblings it was something with Brock,” McIntyre said. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness if I did something with Brock that’d be great. I’d love to wrestle Brock Lesnar.’ Eventually, I eliminated Brock Lesnar in the Royal Rumble.”
McIntyre further stated that he was taken aback when fans cheered for him after he eliminated Roman Reigns and won the Royal Rumble match as he was then a heel character. The Scottish Warrior’s win earned him a match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36.
Brock Lesnar was defeated after being hit by a series of Claymore kicks and Drew McIntyre captured the WWE Championship for the first time in his career.
Drew McIntyre was mentored by the Undertaker during his first run in WWE
Although his first run with the company was not very fruitful, McIntyre was given a piece of advice by his then-mentor the Undertaker that he treasures to this day in his career. When McIntyre first arrived in the WWE, he was handed over to the Undertaker for coaching by Vince McMahon.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, McIntyre recalled the advice that the Hall of Famer gave him back in the day that he cherishes to this day.
“Undertaker once told me, ‘Don’t play the wrestler. Be the wrestler.’. At the time, ’Taker was my mentor, a role assigned by Vince [McMahon], and I had no idea what he was talking about. I was a wrestler, obviously, right? Now, almost 15 years later, I have a much different appreciation for his lessons.
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