Drew McIntyre shared insights on the atmosphere within the WWE locker room immediately after he dethroned Cody Rhodes to claim the Undisputed WWE Championship at an event in Berlin. On the Inside The Ring podcast, McIntyre described the blend of disbelief and celebration backstage, underscoring the importance of reactions from his peers alongside the live crowd’s energy. The celebration was highlighted by early congratulations from colleagues Nikki Cross and Alba Fyre before McIntyre was whisked away to handle media appearances.
Peers’ Support and The Meaning Behind The Locker Room Ovation
McIntyre said once the immediate post-match activities died down, he experienced one of the most memorable moments of his title win: a standing ovation in the catering area from fellow WWE talent. This acknowledgment from his peers felt more meaningful than any fan reaction he had encountered during the live show. He also mentioned his close family members, who had traveled to Berlin and watched the match live, as a personal highlight.
“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 missus, 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, WWE Superstar
McIntyre’s Thoughts on Cody Rhodes’ Reaction Post-Defeat
Reflecting on Cody Rhodes’ likely mood after losing the championship, McIntyre joked about how Rhodes might have been feeling after the match.
“Oh, no. He was probably on his jet, crying.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
Comparing Personalities: Rangers’ Success versus Sheamus’ Title Run
When asked to pick between a Rangers victory in the English Premier League or Sheamus capturing the Intercontinental Title, McIntyre playfully leaned toward the Rangers. He mentioned how Sheamus’ long reign could become legendary, imagining the veteran champion continuing to fight for years to come despite aging.
“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.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
Fan and Social Media Reactions to McIntyre’s Championship Run
McIntyre revealed that, despite the generally supportive reception from European fans, some detractors—whom he humorously dubbed “Cody Crybabies”—have been critical of his ascent. He expressed gratitude toward loyal supporters and made clear his intent to keep his reign unpredictable, contrasting his style to that of Rhodes.
“I mean, generally it’s been fairly positive, but I’ve also been in Europe the whole time, and I’m obviously from that side of the world, so everybody’s been very, very happy for me. And social media, I think we’re happy. Initially, maybe not some of them, as The Rock calls them, Cody Crybabies. Just because of the journey I’ve been on. But I appreciate those who have been with me the whole time. I said this on TV last week. If you’ve been on the bandwagon, you’ve been supporting me through the worst of times, then good. If you’ve not been with me, then get lost. I don’t need you. I said, I didn’t need you then, I don’t need you now. So keep enjoying the show. I can guarantee you one thing. It’s not going to be Cody kissing babies and shaking hands. It’s going to be dangerous and unpredictable with me as champion.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
Encounter with a Passionate Fan at a Photo Opportunity
During a recent raffle backstage, McIntyre was asked to meet a fan, who turned out to be highly emotional and confronted him over the championship. The incident escalated quickly until security intervened, after which McIntyre helped diffuse the situation by engaging with the fan directly.
“There was one incident, actually, a show last week. Somebody won a raffle to meet a superstar backstage, and they asked me to do it, and I said, ‘Are you sure? You know, Cody is on the show. You know that he’s he’s the he’s a big, good guy. I’m kind of controversial in the middle guy.’ And they went, ‘No, no, no. Everyone wants to see you.’ And I was, ‘Okay, the guy came back and lunged at me and did say that’s Cody’s title.’ Swung at me in security, had to get between us, and I calmed him down. We got a picture together. I said, ‘We’ll get a picture with the title.’ He was really, really genuinely upset. It was great. But because I knew he was so legitimately upset, as soon as we took the picture, he started mouthing off again. So I stepped back, moved the security guard between us, and raised the title and just went laughs and ran off like a child.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
McIntyre Values Fans’ Passion Over Passive Support
Despite the confrontational moments, McIntyre emphasized that he prefers fans who are invested emotionally and vocal, valuing their passion over passive attendance at shows. He recognizes that some newcomers may start skeptical but become engrossed in the spectacle WWE offers.
“I want fans like that. As long as you’re passionate, you’re making noise. There’s nothing worse than somebody just sitting there, sitting on their hands, not making noise whatsoever. When I’m out there, ‘Is he in his hands all the time? I see him all the time. I’ll mess him up.’ He’s sitting there not making noise cuz I see him all these appearances. We’ve taken about 6,000 pictures together. So, next time I tell him, so they’d better be making noise. I’ll be telling them next time I see him. But yeah. As long as you’re emotionally invested, that’s all that matters. As long as you know, sometimes there might be some people that got some free tickets. They might not be sure about WWE, and then they check out the show. They see the spectacle. They see the crowd investment, how they’re into it, they are, and they find themselves getting lost in it. And if they’re not, eventually Drew McIntyre takes off as, and they get very excited.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
Responding to Critics and Embracing the Trolls
McIntyre openly addressed his detractors, welcoming their criticism as fuel for maintaining his edge. He joked about being thicker-skinned than most and confident in his ability to outsmart and outperform online and real-life antagonists alike.
“Keep hating. I absolutely love it. I mean, there’s just not as many. I wish I had more. So I’m going to keep running my mouth. Hopefully, I offend more of you out there with some of the stuff that I say, then keep coming at me because, unfortunately for you, the skin is too thick. I’ve been around too long. I’ve been through too much. And you’ll never ever out-talk me. I always say I’m like, when people come, ‘You’re a troll! You’re just an internet troll!’ Am I though? Am I though? Don’t I just out-talk you on the internet? Then I step from behind the keyboard. Then I out-talk them at your favorite wrestler on the microphone. And then I beat them up because I’m 6’5″, 280. And if I wasn’t married, I’d take your girl too. I’m not your average troll.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
Pushback and Verbal Feuds with Cody Rhodes
Addressing the level of intensity exchanged with Cody Rhodes, McIntyre insisted he has no reservations in pushing boundaries. He acknowledged Rhodes’ resilience both physically and verbally but vowed to escalate his persona as champion even further.
No. I honestly don’t believe there’s such a thing as too far these days. You know, I’m willing to take it as well as willing to give it out. A lot of people might take some of the stuff I say, get offended, and maybe run and cry to management. Cody’s not one of those people. I’ll give him credit where credit is due. You know, he’ll take punches literally in the ring. He does some crazy stuff. He jumped off a balcony top of me, puts his body in the line all the time, but he’s also got pretty thick skin. And he’ll take a verbal lash, and then he won’t give it right back.
So no, as far as I’m concerned, there is no limit. And yeah, I’m going to keep pushing the boundaries. So you think I’ve been bad before I won the title? Just wait. Just wait. People are going to try and cancel me for some of the stuff I probably say. I don’t care. I’m the champ. You can’t cancel the champ.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
Historic Achievement as Scottish and British WWE Champion
McIntyre reflected on his unique distinction as the first and only Scottish and British WWE Champion, surpassing legendary counterparts such as the British Bulldog and William Regal, who never held the world title. He described this achievement as particularly meaningful amid his broader championship accomplishments.
“My biggest one is I’m the first and only ever Scottish and British WWE champion of all time. People like the British Bulldog, William Regal, Wade Barrett, and some of the greats from Britain and the UK in general have never won the world title. I’ve been lucky to win it four times. I know that’s the biggest one to me. And you know, winning all those championships you just mentioned is very, very surreal.”
— Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
Looking Ahead: The Impact of Dethroning Cody Rhodes
Drew McIntyre’s takeover as the Undisputed WWE Champion not only shook up the WWE landscape but has created a fresh dynamic among talent and fans alike. His candid reflections on media pressure, peer acknowledgment, and the passion of supporters illuminate the complex world of professional wrestling beyond the ring. As he continues to develop his reign, the emphasis on unpredictability and edge suggests a dramatic period ahead in WWE narratives.
This shift signals that the era following Cody Rhodes’ hold on the championship will be marked by intense rivalries and a more volatile championship scene, promising to engage audiences and raise stakes for all involved in the WWE universe.
