Drew McIntyre: I’m Still Chasing My WrestleMania Moment
McIntyre reflects on his title win at WrestleMania 36
Drew McIntyre has had a rollercoaster couple of years on WWE’s main roster. After rebuilding his reputation on the Indies and in IMPACT after his 2014 release, McIntyre came back refreshed, tore his way through NXT, and finally stood atop the mountain when he defeated Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title at WrestleMania 36.
But McIntyre is still chasing his WrestleMania moment. Talking to The Rack Radio Show McIntyre gave his side of the story after winning the title in the Covid era.
“That was the dream, to become WWE Champion, I just didn’t expect it to happen in that fashion,” McIntyre said. “Seven years of work, finally I win the WWE Royal Rumble, I get my guaranteed title match at the biggest show of the year, WrestleMania. I challenge Brock Lesnar, UFC Champion, multiple time WWE Champion, an anomaly in our industry.
“The big match is coming, not only is it going to be at WrestleMania, its gonna be WrestleMania in my American Hometown, where I have lived for years, in Tampa, Florida, 80,000 people, family and friends from Scotland are there, wife is gonna be there, they are all in the front row. Fans rides behind me for the first time in my life in WWE. The reactions are at a fever pitch like I have never heard before, nothing could go wrong, then boom, pandemic.”
Despite McIntyre’s big moment happening in front of a live audience of zero, the magnitude of McIntyre’s unique headline slot wasn’t lost on him:
“I started to understand the gravity of the situation,” McIntyre said. “We were the only gig in town, we were bringing people an escape with WrestleMania, my match was last, it had a bit of a feel good story and it could really put some smiles on faces across the world if I beat Brock and won the title. It was something that was really big to me and when I won the title it meant the world to me and I had my moment. It was in a quiet performance center with no fans there instead of 80,000, but I had my moment with the title, I beat Brock.
“It meant a lot to me. I watched it at home with everyone else, we taped it a week in advance, I was able to watch it live with the world, when the referee presented me with the title on television, my wife presented me with the title in real life, which was really cool and then I heard the feedback for Mania was just unbelievable and again we are talking about positivity, inspiring people and that’s what it is all about. To see the level of positivity for WrestleMania was unbelievable. It was a WrestleMania where the world stood still. It will never be forgotten and people will remember that night when Drew McIntyre beat Brock for the title, in front of nobody.”
McIntyre would finally get his WWE Title opportunity in front of fans at WrestleMania 37, but surprisingly lost against Champion Bobby Lashley:
“To hear the shock I think when Lashley at the end as well when he put me out from his finishing move the Hurt Lock was pretty cool as well,” McIntyre said. “I think everyone just expected Drew was going to win as well and have his moment with the fans this year. You know ‘he’s earned it, he’s worked so hard, he’s gonna get it and then it gets taken away and I think that’s important for the Drew McIntyre character
“I’m not Superman, I’m Batman and I have to be relatable. I am flawed as human, with all the ups and downs I have been through and I certainly haven’t had it easy the entire time. Why should I have it easy at WrestleMania? I have to keep overcoming it at the same time while making top level superstar in Bobby Lashley, we need as many top level superstars as possible. To get that moment taken away, I’m still chasing that moment in front of the fans at WrestleMania.”
H/T: Wrestling Inc.
