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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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Drew McIntyre has opened up about a significant chapter of his WWE career that he believes often goes unrecognized by the modern fanbase. Amid his current high-profile rivalries with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, "The Scottish Warrior" took time to reflect on his first reign as WWE Champion during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on the "Busted Open Radio" podcast, McIntyre highlighted his 2020 program with Randy Orton as a pivotal moment that cemented his status as a main event player, even if the lack of a live audience has caused it to fade from memory for some.
McIntyre captured his first WWE Championship by defeating Brock Lesnar in the main event of "WrestleMania 36" in an empty Performance Center. He went on to hold the gold for over 300 days, carrying the company through its "ThunderDome" era.
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During this period, he engaged in a months-long rivalry with Orton, which included a Hell in a Cell match where he briefly lost the title before regaining it weeks later. Despite the quality of their matches, McIntyre feels the unique circumstances of the era have diminished the feud's legacy in the eyes of fans.
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“Randy and I had some great programs. The big one that people probably won’t talk about in the future so much, as the pandemic just disappeared in everyone’s mind, which is hard for me since I had the title for over 300 days,” McIntyre said.
The rivalry with "The Viper" served as a critical litmus test for McIntyre, who had finally reached the mountaintop after a long and arduous journey. He explained that standing across the ring from a veteran like Orton forced him to elevate every aspect of his game, from his in-ring psychology to his verbal skills.
“I knew I had to step up and prove that I belong at the top level. That’s when I got to Randy for the first time in a long-term program. I have to prove I can keep up in the ring with Randy Orton at a top flight level. I have to prove I can keep up on the microphone at the top flight level, and Randy really pushed me during that period,” McIntyre said.
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Now that WWE has returned to touring with live crowds, McIntyre expressed a strong desire to run it back with Orton. He believes that the dynamic they established in the empty arenas would translate powerfully to a stadium setting, giving the rivalry the atmosphere it originally deserved.
“I would love to have another title feud involving Randy Orton, this time in front of live crowds,” McIntyre said.
While looking back at his past, McIntyre remains embroiled in chaos in the present. He recently competed in the "Survivor Series: WarGames" match, where his team—featuring The Vision and Logan Paul—secured a victory over the squad led by CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. However, his celebration was short-lived as he remains entangled in a bitter suspension storyline on the blue brand.
On the December 5 episode of "SmackDown," McIntyre defied his suspension by arriving at the arena in a truck to confront General Manager Nick Aldis. McIntyre argued that his victory at "Survivor Series" should have earned him reinstatement, but Aldis refused and ordered him to leave.
As McIntyre attempted to exit, he was ambushed in his truck by Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who brutally attacked him through the passenger window before being pulled away by security. Later in the night, Rhodes marched to the ring and surprisingly demanded that Aldis reinstate McIntyre, stating he wanted to settle their score inside the ring rather than in the parking lot.
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