8 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (16 Jan - Results & Review)

2. Drew McIntyre’s Long-Awaited Moment

Drew McIntyre
WWE.com

This had to feel good.

Friday marked the first time that Drew McIntyre has had an entrance in front of fans as reigning WWE Champion, at least on TV. He actually got to roll out in front of his countrymen in Glasgow, Scotland on a house show last weekend after beating Cody to win the belt. Drew won his first WWE Title in 2020, so it’s been a long, long wait for the Scot.

This is worth jotting down as an ‘Up’, because he was totally robbed of any kind of organic reaction from a live crowd 6 years ago. Yes, it should make everyone feel sick that the 2020 Royal Rumble-WrestleMania 36 period was 6 years ago! It simultaneously seems like yesterday and even longer than 6 years, which is weird but true.

WWE let McIntyre bask in the glory of this for a while. The crowd in London babyfaced him here before he heeled on them, and it was deserved. People are genuinely delighted for Drew after so many disappointments since audiences began flooding back to shows in 2021.

Jacob Fatu chased him off as SmackDown motored towards the opening Randy Orton vs. The Miz match, but this was some moment for Drew. It's one he'll never forget. Triple H gave him a bagpipe-filled entrance like it was 'Mania or something, and he was cock of the walk (not Terry Taylor as the Red Rooster) when walking down the aisle.

Someone else stole the show on the mic though, and it was McIntyre's predecessor.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.