WWE superstar Drew McIntyre is still ‘disgusted’ by his last interaction with Tyson Fury at Clash At The Castle.
The Scottish Warrior is hoping to exorcise his demons when the premium live event comes to Glasgow, Scotland this weekend, almost two years after the inaugural show in Cardiff.
He has described the end of that night – which saw him serenaded by Fury as they sang American Pie together in the aftermath to a heartbreaking loss to Roman Reigns, and he exclusively told Metro.co.uk how gutted he was at the time.
‘That was BS. We can actually get it right this time,’ he said before facing Damian Priest in a hometown World Heavyweight Title match on Saturday night. ‘I’d rather take 10 punches from Fury – also they’re pillow fists, so they’d be easier.
‘But I’m never singing again. I just did what I felt was right at that time, and tried to make people happier even though I was clearly disgusted myself. One of my biggest regrets, singing that song.’
Although Drew’s disappointment was evident on his face, he has learned to bite his tongue when the moment calls for it.
That was the case during a tense exchange with CM Punk and Seth Rollins in the buildup to WrestleMania, when Punk made a not-so-subtle reference to Drew being named the Chosen One in 2009 by disgraced former WWE boss Vince McMahon.
The 78-year-old businessman is facing a lawsuit over allegations of sex trafficking and abuse, which he has vehemently denied, and fans were shocked to hear the nod on live television.
‘What was going through my mind was I could respond right now, and would it be a good look for our company? And I have to make a decision because we’re going O.K. Corral-style, unloading rounds on each other,’ Drew recalled.
‘I did what I thought was right for not just the company, but for our roster, and held my tongue on that night. I had a couple of things in mind that would have melted the internet, but potentially hurt us in different ways.’
Although he could ‘probably’ have got away with what he nearly said, Drew insisted he is ‘intelligent’ enough to ‘make it compelling without going there’.
He warned: ‘If you see Drew McIntyre going off those lines, swearing and saying things like “wow, this is gonna potentially hurt himself or the company or the roster”, then it’s because I have lost it.’
He doesn’t see that happening though, particularly as he’s even been able to work with Punk on screen, despite bad blood going back to 2011.
‘You’ve gotta be professional and good at your job,’ he said. ‘If anything, it makes it more compelling because you know… we just don’t like each other.’
Drew, who started wrestling training aged 15, has earned his success and status in the company through decades of hard work.
The early sessions were tougher than he thought, as he realised just how difficult wrestling is despite growing up a fan, but he recalled: ‘Thankfully I’m stubborn beyond belief and I just refuse to give up.’
Even after debuting for WWE in 2009, there were bumps in the road as Drew got fired five years later, and had to rebuild his reputation on the Scottish independent scene, while raising its profile to new heights.
He made his way back to WWE in 2017 and started his rise back to the top, only to reach those heights during Covid-19. Besides a five-minute title reign at WrestleMania in April, he’s never won the world title in front of a live crowd.
He admitted: ‘To return all these years later, to the Hydro with WWE for the first PLE in Scotland, and main event for the world title, going for my fourth world title, is just mental.’
From Fury to the pandemic, Saturday night gives him a chance to rewrite his story in front of a home nation cheering him on without any distractions.
‘This time, there ain’t the freaking Bloodline and Roman Reigns holding the title for three years,’ he added, reflecting on the obstacles in his way in 2022.
‘We’re gonna get this right, because the UK, my family, me, the fans – it can’t handle another shot to the heart like that again.’
WWE comes to Glasgow, Scotland this weekend for SmackDown (June 14) and Clash At The Castle (June 15). Click here for tickets and more information.
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