10 Times Modern WWE Stars FINALLY Felt Like Big Deals

8. Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre Dolph Ziggler
WWE.com

Drew McIntyre returned to the main roster earlier this year not as the Chosen One, but, strangely, as the Diesel to Dolph Ziggler's Shawn Michaels. The invited comparison was very optimistic.

McIntyre deserves immense credit for a transformation both physical and psychological; the new McIntyre is a total beast who has retained and even advanced his kinetic athleticism. A series of so-so squash tag matches followed his post-WrestleMania return, as did a strange, swift elimination from the June 4 no. 1 contender's tag team battle royal. This felt both pointless and reckless at the time, but that did not deter the Scottish Terminator/Psychopath, nor did those uninspired nicknames. McIntyre entered a brilliant, stiff performance at Hell In A Cell's minor classic of a RAW Tag Team Title match, and, over the last fortnight, has targeted Braun Strowman, wrenching a dream showdown from RAW's mundane reality.

Suddenly, with just one display of balls-out bravado, McIntyre appeared, almost literally, on the same level as Strowman last week. This week, he delivered a Claymore Kick to the Monster. It's hard to look forward to anything on RAW these days. McIntyre has two anticipated wars on the horizon.

Drew Galloway used the wonderfully economic catchphrase "You're f*cked" on the BritWres stage he used to reemerge as a player. That sentiment is extended now to the Universal Title queue.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!