I Think I Know What WWE Is Doing With Drew McIntyre Next, And I Am Not A Fan

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Last Friday on SmackDown, Drew McIntyre unexpectedly won the WWE Championship. Many fans were hoping he’d defeat Cody Rhodes, but considering Drew had lost to Cody seven times recently – only winning once due to a disqualification – it seemed unlikely, especially with WrestleMania just around the corner. However, they were proven wrong! Triple H and the creative team decided to shake things up, and it was a welcome surprise.

Drew McIntyre has consistently delivered excellent work in wrestling recently. Even though creative decisions haven’t always favored him – he’s lost important matches and been involved in questionable storylines – he’s still managed to remain popular with fans and maintain a strong presence. I’m excited to see what happens when he becomes champion, but I have a feeling WWE will immediately put him in a rivalry with Sami Zayn, which I don’t think is a good idea.

Okay, so we’re still in the dark about who’ll be challenging Drew McIntyre for his championship first, but Nick Aldis, the GM of SmackDown, just laid out how we’ll find out. Next week’s SmackDown is going to be packed with four qualifying matches. The winners of those will then square off in a fatal four-way at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and that winner gets a shot at McIntyre’s title at the Royal Rumble. It’s a tournament to determine the number one contender, and it all kicks off next Friday!

I really enjoy these small tournaments with straightforward goals, but when I look at the matchups, I have some concerns about how things will play out. I predict Randy Orton will win against The Miz, Trick Williams will beat Matt Cardona, Damian Priest will defeat Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn will win against Ilya Dragunov. While I’m a big fan of Trick Williams and think he has a bright future, I believe a WWE Championship match is too much, too soon, considering he’s only recently joined the main roster.

While WWE has a few choices, a rematch between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest makes the most sense. McIntyre proved he could win against Priest at WrestleMania 41, even though many fans doubted him, but Priest won their subsequent steel cage match. It’s not the most thrilling rivalry, but it’s the strongest option currently available. Priest has performed well in important matches and deserves a featured singles match at the Royal Rumble. Plus, it would be good for Drew to get a decisive win and re-establish himself as a top star.

Randy Orton is another strong possibility. WWE has been hinting at his desire for another world championship, and featuring him in a prominent match is always a good move. Now that John Cena has retired, Orton is the most recognizable WWE star who appears consistently, and a victory over him would establish McIntyre as a legitimate threat, particularly after his controversial finish against Cody Rhodes.

Honestly, the current storyline feels a bit out of the blue. While many fans have been hoping to see Orton challenge for the championship, the most interesting possibility was always a rivalry with Cody, given their past and all the hints of Orton potentially turning heel. That’s what really captured people’s attention.

It seems like Sami Zayn is the likely next challenger. He and Drew McIntyre have a history, and WWE has repeatedly highlighted that Zayn has never defeated the current champion. Plus, the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event is in Montreal, Zayn’s hometown. He previously lost a major match there against Roman Reigns, and the crowd’s reaction was incredible. A win for Zayn in Montreal would be a huge moment.

This year’s Royal Rumble is being held in Saudi Arabia, where Sami Zayn is incredibly popular – arguably more so than any other WWE wrestler. Given his Syrian heritage and fluency in Arabic, a match against Drew McIntyre there would create an amazing atmosphere, with the crowd heavily supporting Zayn. While it seems like a natural fit to put Zayn in that position, I actually think it’s a bad idea.

I’d love to see Zayn become WWE World Champion eventually. While I don’t think titles should be given to wrestlers just because they’re popular, Zayn’s journey has always been about proving he can reach the top. He’s been incredibly popular with fans at times, and it would be a satisfying moment to see him win. However, it wouldn’t feel right if it happened shortly after Drew McIntyre regained the championship – that would really hurt Drew’s story. The timing isn’t ideal right now.

I really don’t want to see Zayn lose again. It’s frustrating to watch him repeatedly come so close to winning the championship, only to be disappointed. If we keep telling the same story of near-wins and ultimate failure, the audience will lose interest. Another big loss right now, even with a supportive crowd, wouldn’t benefit him. Let’s hold off on that outcome and save it for a more impactful moment.

Sami should definitely be in the Royal Rumble match. The crowd in Saudi Arabia would strongly support him, and while he isn’t expected to win, he has a real chance. It would be a mistake to have him lose in another disappointing match against Drew. It’s possible he could lose early and then re-enter the Rumble later, but I’m not sure WWE would do that.

Having Sami Zayn win in Montreal and then compete against Drew McIntyre in Saudi Arabia would create an exciting storyline for now. While it would deliver some memorable moments, I believe it’s not the best move for Sami’s character in the long run. I’d prefer to see him in the Royal Rumble, and when he eventually challenges for a world championship, I want to be able to wholeheartedly support him without worrying about the impact a loss would have on Drew McIntyre.

Damian Priest might not be the most exciting opponent, but he fits what Drew McIntyre’s character needs at this moment. I’m more interested in a compelling storyline over the next six months than a quick win, so I’d prefer Priest to win over Sami Zayn.

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2026-01-12 18:12