Drew McIntyre secured the Undisputed WWE Championship on January 9 during WWE SmackDown by defeating former title-holder Cody Rhodes in a grueling Three Stages of Hell match. Just a day later, McIntyre defended his newly won championship in his homeland of Scotland, triumphing over Shinsuke Nakamura at the Road to Royal Rumble event held at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
The victory marked a significant milestone for McIntyre, who fulfilled a lifelong ambition of becoming WWE Champion while returning to perform in front of the passionate Scottish crowd. His success resonates deeply given the challenges he faced earlier in his career and the humble beginnings of the local wrestling scene.
Reflection on Early Dreams and Overcoming Doubts
In a recent interview with BBC Scotland, McIntyre spoke candidly about his journey and childhood aspirations.
“I’m Drew McIntyre, WWE superstar, more specifically the WWE Champion,”
he said.
“I’m from Scotland as well. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Ever since I was a kid and I saw WWE for the first time, I was captivated and had two goals. I was gonna play for Rangers or I was gonna wrestle for WWE.”
He recalled the difficulties faced during the early days of his wrestling career in Scotland, when the scene was virtually nonexistent.
“When I first started wrestling in Scotland, Scottish wrestling scene was dead and we had to start our own scene basically, and we were very lucky to get a farmer and a dog in attendance,”
McIntyre shared.
“Never lose that perspective of that young Drew dreaming and pushing, everyone telling me, ‘come on man that’s an American thing, you’re not going to do that,’ and achieving it, so every single day I feel so grateful to do what I’m doing because eventually it’s all going to be memories, given a couple of history making moments so when I first won the WWE title, I was the first ever Scot to win it. First person from Scotland or England. So I guess I’m the currently best in the world and what are the chances? What are the chances? I keep saying over and over because I don’t believe it quite yet, that the first match I’m going to have is back home in Scotland, where it all began.”
Upcoming Appearances and Future Title Challenges
Following his historic win and successful title defense, Drew McIntyre is set to appear live on WWE SmackDown on January 15 from London, marking his first televised appearance as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Fans can expect an intense build-up as McIntyre prepares for further challenges.
In the meantime, WWE is hosting a series of qualifying matches to determine contenders for a four-way title eliminator scheduled for January 24 at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal, Canada. The victor of that eliminator will earn the right to challenge McIntyre at WWE Royal Rumble: Riyadh on January 31 in Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for high-stakes competition.
The Impact of McIntyre’s Championship Run on WWE and Scottish Wrestling
Drew McIntyre’s rise from humble beginnings in Scotland to becoming the Undisputed WWE Champion embodies a remarkable story of perseverance and ambition. His return to defend the title on home soil not only gratifies longtime fans but also highlights the growing influence of international talent in WWE’s global expansion.
As the champion continues to defend his belt against elite competitors around the world, his journey promises to inspire aspiring wrestlers, especially those from regions where wrestling once struggled to gain traction. McIntyre’s journey is a reminder that with dedication and resilience, barriers can be broken, and dreams can be realized on the grandest stages.
