Drew McIntyre addressed recent comments made by Roman Reigns and CM Punk following the Royal Rumble, clarifying that his frustration did not stem from personal insults. Instead, the WWE Superstar focused on defending the prestige of the SmackDown Championship, which he currently holds. The remarks between McIntyre, Reigns, and Punk emerged after Reigns announced Punk as his WrestleMania opponent, sparking heated exchanges across WWE programming.
In an interview with Denise Salcedo, McIntyre emphasized that the insults directed at him did not bother him personally. He pointed out that while Punk often spoke provocatively, Reigns tended to recount reality, highlighting his own successes in rivalry with McIntyre.
“I didn’t care what they said about me. And to be honest, they didn’t really say anything bad about me. Cuz one of them would try and say something bad about me, spin the narrative to themselves cuz I wasn’t there to defend myself. And the other one would just tell the truth. Like Punk would run his mouth. Roman would say, ‘Drew’s four times bigger than you. Had you crying over a plastic bracelet.’ Roman would run his mouth, ‘I beat Drew for three years straight.’ Yeah, you and your whole family.”
Why McIntyre Took Issue with Perceptions of SmackDown
Although McIntyre dismissed personal insults, he voiced strong objection to attempts to diminish the significance of the SmackDown brand and its championship. The implication that SmackDown and its title were inferior within WWE’s hierarchy was what truly angered him.
“So I didn’t care about that. It was trying to make the title, this title, feel lesser than SmackDown feel lesser than. That’s what bothered me.”
Fueled by that perceived disrespect, McIntyre delivered a passionate promo on a recent SmackDown episode, rallying the locker room and reaffirming the SmackDown Championship’s status as WWE’s premier title.
The SmackDown Champion’s Call to Elevate the Brand
On SmackDown, McIntyre declared the title he holds as the number one championship in WWE, urging all superstars to focus on elevating the brand itself rather than competing over perceived status. He acknowledged the contributions of previous champions, underscoring the title’s storied legacy.
“That’s why on SmackDown I came out and said what I said. This is the number one title. No matter what you want to say, no matter how you want to spin it, I get it. But you’re two giant superstars. Focus on yourselves. Focus on the title. The guys that have held this title, including you guys, made it what it is — the number one title.”
Inspiring the Roster to Raise Their Game
McIntyre revealed that the disrespect motivated him deeply, sparking an intense drive to push SmackDown to greater heights regardless of other shows’ prominence. His message to the locker room was clear: respond with equal passion and dedication to restore and protect the brand’s prestige.
“And as for SmackDown, it lit a fire under me. Really lit a fire under me. That’s why I said to the roster, you better stand up and be as angry as I am and start giving 150%. No matter what big platform they’re on right now, I don’t care. Our show is going to be the better show cuz everyone’s going to be killing it from now on.”
“As you say, Drew is a bad guy. Why would he say that? No. Drew says what’s on his mind. I ain’t a bad guy, ain’t a good guy. I’m a real guy.”
The Significance of McIntyre’s Position in WWE
Drew McIntyre’s firm stance reflects more than just personal pride; it signals a pivotal moment in WWE’s landscape where competition between brands is intense. By openly declaring the SmackDown Championship the top prize in WWE, McIntyre challenges the narrative set by prominent figures like Roman Reigns and CM Punk, who have dominated recent storylines on Raw.
This declaration not only defends his own reign but also aims to unite the SmackDown roster behind a common goal of proving their show’s value to the WWE Universe. How this plays out at upcoming events, including WrestleMania, could influence the direction of inter-brand rivalry and championship prestige moving forward.
