Drew McIntyre WWE struggles continue to draw concern after his recent performance at WWE Wrestlepalooza, where he fell short of capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship. The Scottish wrestler’s ongoing setbacks have fueled speculation that WWE management may be displeased with him, affecting his booking in major matches.
At Wrestlepalooza, held recently in Australia, Cody Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre by capitalizing on a late injury that caused McIntyre’s leg to give out. Despite pushing Rhodes to the limit, McIntyre lost once again in a high-profile bout, marking another missed opportunity in his pursuit of the world title since WrestleMania 40.
Veteran Commentator Voices Disapproval of WWE’s Handling of McIntyre
Jonathan Coachman, a former WWE commentator, expressed his frustrations with the overall quality of Wrestlepalooza and suggested that WWE’s top executives, including Triple H, failed to deliver the surprises and excitement fans anticipated. He described the event as feeling like a “glorified SmackDown” rather than a marquee show.
“HHH promised a bunch of surprises tonight at Wrestlepalooza and we got 2… 1. Paul Heyman introduces Brock 2. Stephanie McMahon finds out she is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Do you think espn is happy with that as their first show? I thought they were going to have run ins. Legit surprises. No Roman, no Randy, no Rhea, No Bianca, No Charlotte. I would have had all stars on deck. Felt like a glorified Smackdown to me.”
— Jonathan Coachman, Former WWE Commentator
Coachman further raised questions about McIntyre’s recent string of losses, suggesting the wrestler might have fallen out of favor with WWE’s leadership. He described McIntyre as a role model for aspiring superstars but lamented that he has been losing every major match for the past two years.
“And what has Drew McIntyre done to pi** off the bosses. He is one of my favorites and what every superstar should aspire to be and look like. And he has been losing every big match for 2 years.”
— Jonathan Coachman, Former WWE Commentator
Current Status of Drew McIntyre and Upcoming WWE Storylines
Following his defeat at Wrestlepalooza, Drew McIntyre appears to be sidelined from title contention for the foreseeable future. During the post-show segment, Cody Rhodes confronted World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, setting up a highly anticipated match for the Crown Jewel Championship at the premium live event in Australia next month.
Meanwhile, McIntyre will need to rebuild momentum and work his way back into the title race if he hopes to challenge Rhodes again. Fans will need to watch upcoming episodes of SmackDown to see how the rivalry between McIntyre and other top stars evolves.
Implications of McIntyre’s Struggles for WWE and Its Audience
Drew McIntyre WWE struggles highlight potential backstage tensions that could be affecting his career trajectory and the creative direction of WWE programming. With key figures such as Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Paul Heyman playing major roles behind the scenes, the lack of big wins for McIntyre has raised questions among fans and industry insiders alike.
The ongoing situation also casts a shadow on how WWE handles its top talent amid competition from rival promotions and media scrutiny from outlets like ESPN. McIntyre’s setbacks at Wrestlepalooza symbolize broader challenges within WWE’s storytelling approach and roster utilization, which could influence fan engagement and the company’s future booking decisions.
HHH promised a bunch of surprises tonight at Wrestlepalooza and we got 2
1. Paul Heyman introduces Brock
2. Stephanie McMahon finds out she is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.Do you think espn is happy with that as their first show?
I thought they were going to…
— The Coach (@Thecoachrules) September 21, 2025
CODY RHODES JUST PINNED DREW MCINTYRE CLEAN….#Wrestlepalooza pic.twitter.com/d7RSo8JrHb
— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) September 21, 2025
