WWE Making New Plans In Case Drew McIntyre Misses SmackDown (WWE News)

Triple H's creative team put contingency plan in place for SummerSlam 2025.

WWE SummerSlam 2025 Randy Orton Jelly Roll Drew McIntyre Logan Paul
WWE.com

An internal WWE source has told WrestleVotes that the company will put "wheels in motion" on a contingency plan should Drew McIntyre remain stranded in the UK and thus miss both SmackDown and this weekend's SummerSlam PLE. For those who don't know, the Scot is currently stuck in England after attending a friend's wedding.

McIntyre, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, released a quick video on his social streams explaining the situation. Officials stopped him from boarding a flight because he didn't have his United States passport - they wouldn't let Drew on with just his British documents. So, he's currently scrambling to make it back over to the US in time for this weekend's festivities.

It's unclear exactly what this would mean for the planned tag-team match pitting McIntyre and Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton and Jelly Roll. That's been heavily pushed on television over the past few weeks, and it's even become a highlight on recent SmackDown broadcasts. In all likelihood, Paul would pick a brand new partner to step into battle with him at SummerSlam.

Advertisement

Place your bets on who that might be.

Of course, there's still enough time to sort things out and get McIntyre back to the United States. Triple H certainly won't want him to miss out on either SmackDown or SummerSlam. To his credit, Drew added a splash of kayfabe to this very-real ordeal by claiming that musician Jelly Roll pulled some strings and is responsible for him getting stranded.

Advertisement

Second Major PLE Change In Coming For Randy Orton?

Randy Orton Jelly Roll
WWE.com

If Drew isn't able to be there for TV or for this weekend's PLE in New Jersey, then it'll be another hammer blow to Randy Orton's 2025. Previously, the 'Viper' watched his grudge bout vs. Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 41 go up in smoke due to KO's serious injuries. That sucked for both guys, but Orton did end up wrestling a quick match with Joe Hendry at 'Mania instead.

WWE came through on a satisfying (albeit brief) contingency plan on that occasion, and the writers might have to do so again if McIntyre is ruled out due to travel restrictions. As you'd imagine, nobody inside WWE is particularly thrilled by the thought of this, but Randy might be cursing his own luck.

Advertisement

Score that down as multiple major matches he's had slip through his fingers (if Drew can't make it).

Get 76% off, four free months, and a free Amazon gift card when you sign up to NordVPN here: http://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=564&aff_id=3013&url_id=31010&aff_sub1=WhatCulture

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.