WWE is planning a major change tied to Drew McIntyre’s return. McIntyre, who has been off television since WrestleMania 42 in April, is being considered for a move from SmackDown to Raw.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, WWE’s creative team is already discussing ideas for bringing McIntyre back on Raw. The belief backstage is that Raw needs a star of McIntyre’s stature more than SmackDown does.
McIntyre came close to returning earlier. In late August, WWE had creative plans ready to put him back on TV, but a change in direction led the company to scrap them, extending his absence by a few weeks.
McIntyre’s last match came on April 18, the first night of WrestleMania 42, when he lost to Jacob Fatu in a brutal Unsanctioned Match.
Before that, McIntyre won the Undisputed WWE Championship in January by beating Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell Match. His reign ended on March 6, however, when Rhodes won the title back after interference from Fatu.
During his time away, McIntyre worked on films such as Highlander and The Last Druid. Despite his Hollywood commitments, he has continued training for his return to the ring.
On September 25, McIntyre posted a video of himself training at KECH Pro Wrestling Academy, Rusev’s wrestling school in Nashville. Then, on October 2, he used social media to show off his physical transformation since January.
The next Raw is scheduled for October 12 at Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, Louisiana. It will be the first episode after Money in the Bank, where Roman Reigns is set to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight. That night could be a good opportunity for McIntyre to return.