Drew McIntyre, a prominent WWE performer, recently shared how surreal it feels to maintain a friendship with some of his wrestling idols, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. As he prepares for his highly anticipated Wrestlepalooza showdown with Cody Rhodes, McIntyre reflected on how this WWE friendship has shaped his career and mindset.
The Unexpected Bond Between Drew McIntyre and The Rock
The character Drew McIntyre portrays on WWE programming is known for being a tough, fearless competitor who openly calls out dishonesty, particularly in his ongoing rivalry with Cody Rhodes. Yet beyond the ring persona, McIntyre is a lifelong wrestling fan realizing his dreams, now counting The Rock among his closest friends.
In an interview with Peter Rosenberg on the podcast Cheap Heat, McIntyre revealed how The Rock reached out to him early in his career, sparking a sincere relationship that has lasted ever since. He described being starstruck yet humbled by the encounter, where The Rock showed genuine interest and encouragement, recognizing McIntyre’s potential before most did.
“That’s another thing that’s just so surreal to me. Developing relationships with people that I admired so much when I was younger as a fan, but then as I became a performer, admiring certain people even more because I get to know about their work ethic and their drive and what makes them tick, and thinking, ‘I want to be like that person, I’d love to learn from that person.’ You meet certain people that you click with that really see something in you and really believe in you, and The Rock is one of those people for me. When I met him for the first time he was returning to WWE, I couldn’t tell you what year it was exactly, but I remember him running the steps in the stadium, and I was younger, I wasn’t doing anything at the time, I was just passing by and kind of gave him a sheepish wave, didn’t want to interrupt his workout. He stopped and walked right down, he looked me in the eye, he chatted to me and made it clear to me he knew who I was, and saw something in me. And I thought he was just being very nice because he’s a very nice guy, and it was, ‘Wow, The Rock’s really cool, he pretended he knew me, he knew a couple of facts about me, but no way.’ And I remember meeting his business partner, ex-wife Dany, on a plane one time and she reiterated, ‘Hey, he’s a big fan of yours, we both are, we see something in you,’ which again kind of blew my mind.”
– Drew McIntyre, WWE Performer
How The Rock’s Support Boosted McIntyre’s WWE Journey
McIntyre explained that moments of recognition from The Rock have been crucial during his WWE path, particularly during challenging periods when progress felt slow. A notable instance was when The Rock named McIntyre as a future WWE superstar in a TMZ interview, providing a vital confidence boost.
“You fast forward to certain moments of my career, there’s a clip that was on TMZ with The Rock coming out of a building, one of his many appearances one time, and he was asked who do you see as the future superstar – I was doing nothing of relevance at the time that would suggest (I was) the next guy, and he said Drew McIntyre, which really was the boost I needed at that time. I was working hard but things weren’t quite happening for me to get to that next level. And I was like, ‘Wow, okay if Rock believes in me, that’s the kick in the butt I need, I’m gonna keep pushing, I’m gonna keep giving it my all, no stone unturned.’ And I had moments like that one after another after another until we got to the point I re-signed and I got my sword here, and I got a very cool personal note that nobody will ever know what it says. That was incredible, and it’s led to working with him professionally on Project Rock, being the face of Project Rock, and who knows what the future may hold there.”
– Drew McIntyre, WWE Performer
Drew also shared his excitement about collaborating with another wrestling legend, Triple H, who now oversees WWE’s creative direction. The blending of inspiration from both The Rock and Triple H is meaningful to McIntyre as his career advances.
“But it is very surreal. We’ve got Triple H leading creative right now, someone I admired so much, you’ve got The Rock working with him on the side – young Drew’s excited, but older, grizzled, very, very grizzled business Drew is very excited too.”
– Drew McIntyre, WWE Performer
Recent WWE Events and Upcoming Matches
On the final WWE SmackDown show before Wrestlepalooza in Toledo, Drew McIntyre ended the event by delivering a powerful Claymore Kick to Cody Rhodes, intensifying their tense rivalry ahead of their title match. Fans are eager to see if McIntyre will finally capture the WWE Championship from Rhodes at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event.
Other Headlines in WWE
Separately, The Rock recently sent a heartfelt video message to an absent WWE superstar, despite distancing himself from the company. Brock Lesnar engaged in a notable interaction with an old ally during SmackDown and hinted toward a potential reunion. In a candid revelation, a WWE legend admitted to feeling disgusted by her wrestling career. CM Punk teased possible backstage roles after retiring from active competition, indicating new chapters ahead within WWE’s structure.
Stephanie McMahon shared a moving update about her only son, while a top WWE star accused Cody Rhodes of holding back talent to maintain his position. Meanwhile, backstage reactions emerged following Seth Rollins’ quick victory over CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 2025. WWE icon Triple H also offered personal insights on life’s most critical decisions, reflecting his long-standing impact on the sport both inside and outside the ring.
Looking Ahead for Drew McIntyre and WWE
Drew McIntyre’s journey from wrestling fan to acclaimed Superstar illustrates the power of perseverance and meaningful mentorship within WWE. His WWE friendship with The Rock has not only inspired him but also paved the way for collaborative opportunities like Project Rock, signaling promising developments.
As the Wrestlepalooza main event between McIntyre and Cody Rhodes approaches, the outcome could significantly influence WWE’s title landscape and storylines moving forward. McIntyre’s blend of talent, determination, and the support of WWE legends suggests he will continue to be a central figure in the company’s evolving narrative.
