Drew McIntyre has hailed the rise of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns – but says he’s coming for his head at Clash at the Castle today (Saturday, September 3).
McIntyre challenges for all the gold in Cardiff as WWE brings a first major show to the UK in more than 30 years.
A generation has passed since The British Bulldog famously thrilled Wembley Stadium by claiming the Intercontinental title from Bret Hart at SummerSlam 1992.
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While many major names like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and John Cena have all come and gone at the top of WWE since then, few have enjoyed a run of dominance quite like Reigns.
His two-year stretch as the company’s top title holder is a rare phenomenon in professional wrestling, and that tenure has been praised by the man who will stand across the ring from him.
Speaking to Daily Star, challenger McIntyre tipped his cap to the way Reigns persevered through uncertain times earlier in his career, admitting it’s paved the way for what would follow.
The Scot reflected: “He has been on top for 10 years now, and there were times when the crowd wasn’t necessarily with him.
“He kept his head down and pushed ahead and did the best job he possibly could.
“He has always been an incredible athlete, but I think he has really found himself the last couple of years and embraced who is.
“You always get the best character with the volume turned up, and he finally became himself and turned that volume up.
(Image: WWE)
“That’s led to this Tribal Chief success that people have really set on and he has already had years of equity [that has] taken him to the next level of superstar that we need more people to reach.
“I am happy for him but he’s had those titles for 9,000 days now so it’s time for someone else to reach that level!
“He has mantlepiece upon mantlepiece of those big moments and it’s time for Drew McIntyre to start collecting some heads, including his.”
McIntyre is far from a stranger to big moments in WWE.
His title win over Brock Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania a couple of years ago was supposed to be the culmination of the journey that took him away from WWE and back again.
The Covid-19 pandemic robbed him of that to an extent – the win was filmed in an empty studio and aired on tape delay.
Maybe after all that, a win over a previously unstoppable Reigns is the moment his career had been building towards?
He added: “I hope so!
“This is a moment I couldn’t even have envisioned because the UK stadium show didn’t exist as a thing.
“We had me shouting about a UK stadium show for years but it still wasn’t a thing, but now it is a thing.
“I’d have been happy to be part of the show, but now I’m in the main event, in the Bret and Bulldog position and to see myself all over Cardiff – to understand how big all of this is, is incredible.”
Tickets still remain available for WWE Clash at the Castle, held at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on 3 September. The show also airs on BT Sport – visit wwe.com for more.
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