WWE Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre recently shared the intense emotions he experienced immediately after winning the WWE Title from Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown, held in Berlin, Germany earlier this month. Speaking to TMZ’s Inside the Ring, McIntyre reflected on the whirlwind of celebrations and interviews that followed his victory, providing insight into the raw backstage environment during that moment. His account highlights the combination of disbelief, joy, and camaraderie among peers during such a milestone in his career, underscoring the importance of support from fellow wrestlers and family.
Describing the minutes after his triumph, McIntyre said,
“It was pretty cool. Again, just trying to take it in, believing it was real. Now everybody’s right there, and there are a couple of interviews that had to be done right away. Nikki Cross and Alba Fyre were right there. A couple of fellow Scots to congratulate me, and there was a lot of congratulations going on. But it was also ‘Drew, we have to get this interview done right now.’ I believe it was SportsCenter. So, we had to just get on the ball right away. And it wasn’t until everything calmed down that I got to really let it set in. And the coolest moment, this is my cousin’s favorite part just by chance, my cousin, my uncle, and my friend came to Berlin the night before Glasgow just to see the show, hang out and catch up. And then they saw the title win. And then once everything had calmed down, I went to the room, got myself together, called the misses, and that. We went to catering where a lot of the talent are, and everyone kind of like stood up and clapped. That was probably the coolest moment for me. It’s cool how the fans react positively, but when your peers kind of react in that kind of way, that’s the most important thing.”
Drew McIntyre’s Take on Cody Rhodes’ Reaction Post-Defeat
When asked about Cody Rhodes’ reaction following the title loss, McIntyre delivered a lighthearted remark reflecting on Rhodes’ likely feelings. He joked,
“Oh, no. He was probably on his jet, crying.”
This comment alluded to the competitive nature between the two wrestlers, capturing a moment of tension mixed with humor in the aftermath of a high-stakes match.
Choosing Between Rangers’ Premier League Title and Sheamus’ WWE Intercontinental Title
Further into the interview, CJ Perry posed an intriguing hypothetical: if McIntyre had to pick between the Rangers winning a Premier League championship or his longtime friend Sheamus finally capturing the WWE Intercontinental Title, which would he choose? Reflecting on their friendship, McIntyre expressed a soft spot for the Rangers’ milestone but showed deep respect and affection for Sheamus.
He explained,
“It’s a tough one. I’m going to go with Rangers to win the title because what’s he [Sheamus] going to complain about? It’s going to be the biggest rep of all time just to keep him fighting for that title for the next 20 years. He’ll be wheeling himself to the ring in a wheelchair. It’s like, ‘I’m coming for that title, fella. Intercontinental champion!’ He’s going to win it eventually. I miss him a lot. I haven’t seen him in person for a very long time. We text all the time and talk on the phone when we can. He’s one of the few people I talk to on the phone. He’s like a freaking He’s an old person, actually. I say that all the time. Said my elderly big brother, Sheamus. Like I talk to my wife on the phone. I talk to my dad on the phone. I think that’s it. Because occasionally when he calls, I’m like, ‘What’s wrong?’ I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s right. You’re a phone person. You like to talk like on the phone.’ Whenever one of my guy friends call I’m like, ‘Oh my god, who died?’ But he does like to talk on the phone. And hopefully we get catch up soon.”
Impending Title Defense at WWE Royal Rumble 2026
Looking ahead, Drew McIntyre is set to defend his WWE Undisputed Championship against Sami Zayn at the highly anticipated WWE Royal Rumble event scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026. The event will take place at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will be broadcast live on ESPN’s app in the United States and on Netflix for international viewers. This upcoming match will be a key moment to watch, as McIntyre looks to maintain his reign amid fierce competition.
