Drew McIntyre has not made any official announcement about his appearance in this week’s episode of WWE RAW in Glasgow, yet he has been vocally advocating for it.
In a recent dialogue with the Daily Star, McIntyre reflected on WWE’s continuous European Tour on its path to WrestleMania, his feud with Damian Priest, among other things.
Brief highlights from the interview can be found below:
Regarding the European tour happening close to WrestleMania: “Each year, WWE’s growth continues to pleasantly surprise me. The moment I arrived in America, I’ve been advocating for a big UK stadium show. Seeing the company’s evolution has been amazing. We are now seen worldwide on Netflix which is incredible, and the number of international shows we host throughout the year is astounding. Everybody is giving their everything to secure the best possible spot at Mania, and performing for the best audiences globally is truly exciting. The fan base’s enthusiasm is infectious and as wrestlers, we are thrilled. From a company’s perspective too, the numbers are truly remarkable.”
Regarding his potential appearance on this week’s RAW: “Let’s just say, I’ve been vocal about it. The future in WWE is unpredictable, but I’ve been incessantly vouching for it for the past few months. Here’s hoping for the best as I assure you that the relevant people are well aware of my persistent reminders.”
On the prospect of a “big five” PPV happening in the UK: “My mindset now is that all things are conceivable. I’m not only envisioning a big show in the UK, but also a WrestleMania. I’ve been endorsing this idea from the moment I realized that anything was possible. So, if you’re fishing for headlines, remember that I talked about a Mania in the UK long before John Cena attempted to claim credit for the idea.”
Damian Priest and you have been on a collision course leading into WrestleMania season. Apart from CM Punk, nobody was more entwined with your career in 2024 than Priest. Given how close you came to defeating him last year, does this fuel your desire to finally secure that elusive WrestleMania victory since the return of fans post-COVID?
On his rivalry with Damian Priest: “With six weeks until Mania, a lot can change. It’s disappointing not to be in one of the title matches considering my performance in 2024, but it’s just a result of high competition and limited spots. When fans expressed disappointment in it being Priest and Drew, I asked them to give us a chance to tell our story. This feud with Priest dates back to last year’s WrestleMania when he cashed in on me after Punk attacked me.
“It appears he doesn’t know how to triumph without exploiting me. Take Elimination Chamber for example, instead of letting me pin Cena after I claymore him, he eliminates me. This pattern of exploiting opportunities makes him seem like a vulture or a parasite. Finally, he’s caught my attention and if he continues to provoke me ahead of Mania, he’d best prepare for a resounding defeat on the grandest stage.”