drew mcintyre he is absolutely on his way to being a WWE Hall of Famer. McIntyre is a 2-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Tag Team Champion, a former Intercontinental Champion, and a former NXT Champion. McIntyre won the 2020 Royal Rumble and the 2020 Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year. McIntyre is the 31st Grand Slam Champion in WWE history.
However, McIntyre’s WWE career didn’t seem headed for greatness when he was released from WWE in June 2014. The former One Man was given his walking papers with no clear plan to return to WWE. McIntyre would use the pitch as motivation to improve his overall physique and his wrestling character. He would find success on the independent circuit claiming the EVOLVE Heavyweight Championship and two EVOLVE Tag Team titles before signing with TNA Impact. McIntyre would capture the Impact World Heavyweight Championship and the Impact Grand Championship before it was relinquished by WWE.
8 Debut match in 2003
Drew McIntyre would start training for professional wrestling in 2001 at age 15. McIntyre formed out of the Frontier Wrestling Alliance in Great Britain. In 2003, McIntyre would have his wrestling debut as “Thee Drew Galloway”. The young rookie displayed a cocky and arrogant character that would fall short in his first bout. McIntyre would lose to Stu Natt, but soon began to win. While McIntyre’s 6’5 height was undeniable, the young Drew had yet to fill out. He was a lanky rookie who would compete against older WWE stars like the Honky Tonk Man and D-Lo Brown.
7 2006 feud with Sheamus
By 2006, McIntyre had added some muscle to his frame. He would also start a feud that would follow him to this day. In May, he would begin a back and forth feud with Sheamus O’Shaunessy, better known simply as Sheamus in WWE. While Sheamus is over 7 years older than McIntyre, back in 2006, it was two young lions from Europe learning how to have a fight. Fast forward to modern WWE, and their friendship and rivalry have become WrestleMania-worthy. The two brawling brutes come from Irish Whip Wrestling.
6 the chosen one 2009
Drew McIntyre would be called a future world champion by Vince McMahon on an episode of SmackDown in 2009. By this time, McIntyre had grown his hair out and continued to fill out his frame with muscle. While he is not the burly competitor of today, McIntyre had the look of a professional wrestler. His in-ring prowess and heel charisma certainly seemed to make the Vince McMahon prophecy an absolute lock. McIntyre would win his first WWE Championship by capturing the Intercontinental Title from John Morrison at TLC. His first reign was 167 days and he would fall to Kofi Kingston
5 three man band 2012
Mr. McMahon’s prophecy was looking a bit shaky back in 2012, when McIntrye would adopt a cowboy hat and skintight leather pants and compete as part of the comedy act Three Man Band. McIntyre’s body resembled his Intercontinental race build, but his fashion style would definitely change. The comedy trio that included Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal would not be very successful. They were in glorious squash angles with Team Hell No and The Shield. The once promising McIntyre would be released by WWE in 2014.
4 TNA 2015
Drew Galloway would debut in TNA in 2015. He was bigger, much more intense, and grew facial hair during his early days in TNA. Galloway gave off stronger vibes during his TNA run than fans saw during his WWE days. In 2016, Drew would defeat Matt Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Title. Drew would vacate the title against future WWE opponent Bobby Lashley at Slammiversary 2016. In January 2017, Galloway defeated Moose for the Impact Grand Championship, but would vacate it upon leaving TNA. On February 26, 2017, TNA announced the release of him.
3 NXT 2017
Drew McIntyre would return to WWE via the NXT brand in 2017. McIntyre would be much larger physically than when he left WWE. McIntyre added muscle and a thick beard while he was competing on NXT.
It only took McIntyre four months to find himself in a match for the NXT Championship against Bobby Roode. He would hold the title for 91 days, before handing it over to Andrade Almas. McIntyre tore his biceps during the match with Andrade. The injury would make the loss McIntyre’s last NXT match.
2 WWE Champion 2020
Drew McIntyre would start a winning streak in late 2019, leading to a Royal Rumble victory in 2020. The muscular, bearded, chest-haired Scottish warrior would challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WresteMania 36.
While in the pandemic, McIntyre would defeat Lesnar and win his first WWE Championship. After more than 200 days as champion, McIntyre would drop the title to Randy Orton. McIntyre would regain the title from Orton less than a month later.
1 Today
While Drew McIntyre was drafted to the Raw brand in the recent 2023 WWE Draft, many reports at the time of publication suggest that he may be done with WWE. McIntyre would compete in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 39 with Gunther and the aforementioned Shaemus for the Intercontinental Championship. While McIntyre would not win the match, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter rated the match 5 stars. McIntyre entered the match ripped from head to toe, looking like a superhero from WWE’s Golden Age. Chiseled muscle upon muscle, McIntyre’s body was as big and ripped at WrestleMania as it has been in his career.