What Happened to Drew McIntyre?
Drew McIntyre, a prominent Scottish professional wrestler, has experienced a dynamic career in WWE, marked by multiple championship reigns and a recent foray into acting. After a significant 2024 and 2025 that saw him win and lose world titles, McIntyre took a hiatus from WWE television in April 2026 to focus on filming movie projects, including the 'Highlander' reboot and 'The Last Druid'. As of August 2026, he has completed filming and is back in the United States, though his immediate in-ring return to WWE is not yet scheduled, with his agent hinting at further acting opportunities.
Quick Answer
Drew McIntyre is currently on hiatus from WWE television, having last competed at WrestleMania 42 in April 2026 where he lost to Jacob Fatu. Since then, he has been actively involved in acting, filming roles in the 'Highlander' reboot and 'The Last Druid', and a WWE-produced microdrama series. As of August 2026, McIntyre has returned to the United States after completing his filming commitments, but there are no immediate creative plans for his WWE in-ring return, with his agent suggesting more acting projects are on the horizon.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline11 events
Wins and Immediately Loses World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL
Drew McIntyre defeated Seth Rollins to win the World Heavyweight Championship, but lost it to Damian Priest via Money in the Bank cash-in after a confrontation with CM Punk, holding the title for only 5 minutes and 46 seconds.
Signs New Four-Year WWE Contract
McIntyre signed a new lucrative four-year deal with WWE, reportedly worth $8 million annually, extending his tenure until at least 2028.
Transferred to SmackDown Brand
As part of WWE's transfer window, Drew McIntyre was moved to the SmackDown brand, continuing his rivalry with Damian Priest.
Defeats Damian Priest at WrestleMania 41
McIntyre defeated Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight at WrestleMania 41, a decisive victory despite his disappointment about not being in a world title match.
Wins Third WWE Championship
Drew McIntyre captured his third WWE Championship by defeating Cody Rhodes on an episode of SmackDown.
Loses WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes
McIntyre's third WWE Championship reign ended after 56 days when Cody Rhodes regained the title, with interference from Jacob Fatu.
Loses to Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42 and Begins Hiatus
McIntyre's last WWE match before his hiatus was an Unsanctioned Match loss to Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42. He subsequently stepped away from WWE TV to focus on acting.
Confirmed Out of SummerSlam 2026
Reports confirmed that Drew McIntyre would miss SummerSlam 2026 due to ongoing filming commitments for Hollywood projects.
Completes Filming for 'Highlander' and 'The Last Druid'
McIntyre finished filming his roles in the 'Highlander' reboot (as Angus Macleod) and 'The Last Druid' (with Russell Crowe), returning to the United States.
Wraps Filming for WWE ReelShort Microdrama
Drew McIntyre completed filming for a WWE-produced live-action microdrama series in partnership with ReelShort, alongside Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry.
Current Status: Back in US, No Immediate WWE TV Return Planned
As of today, Drew McIntyre is back in the United States after his acting commitments, but there are no active creative discussions for his immediate return to WWE television, with his agent hinting at more movie roles.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Drew McIntyre, born Andrew McLean Galloway IV, has carved out a significant legacy in professional wrestling, particularly within WWE. His career has been a journey of highs and lows, from being dubbed 'The Chosen One' in his initial WWE run to his resurgence as a main event talent. After being released in 2014, he rebuilt his career on the independent circuit and in TNA, returning to WWE in 2017 with renewed vigor.
His second tenure with WWE saw him reach the pinnacle, winning the Royal Rumble in 2020 and subsequently capturing the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 36. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, meant his reign occurred without live audiences, a unique and challenging period for his championship run. He continued to be a top-tier performer, consistently challenging for world titles.
The years 2024 and 2025 were particularly eventful for McIntyre. At WrestleMania XL in April 2024, he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins, only to lose it a mere 5 minutes and 46 seconds later to Damian Priest, who cashed in his Money in the Bank contract after McIntyre was attacked by CM Punk. This short reign became a notable, albeit frustrating, turning point. He then faced Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight at WrestleMania 41 in April 2025, securing a victory despite expressing disappointment about not being in a world title match.
McIntyre started 2026 strong, capturing his third WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes on January 9, 2026. This reign, lasting 56 days, concluded on March 6, 2026, when Cody Rhodes reclaimed the title, aided by interference from Jacob Fatu. His final WWE television appearance before his current hiatus was at WrestleMania 42 in April 2026, where he lost an Unsanctioned Match to Jacob Fatu.
Following WrestleMania 42, McIntyre embarked on a hiatus from WWE to pursue acting opportunities. He filmed roles in the 'Highlander' reboot, portraying Angus Macleod, and 'The Last Druid' alongside Russell Crowe. Additionally, he participated in a WWE-ReelShort partnership, filming a live-action microdrama series that also featured Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry. As of August 2026, McIntyre has completed these filming commitments and is back in the United States. However, his agent, Nick LoPiccolo, has indicated that there are no immediate plans for his WWE in-ring return, hinting at potential further acting projects. Despite his absence from in-ring competition, McIntyre remains under a lucrative four-year WWE contract, signed in spring 2024, which is expected to last until at least 2028 and reportedly pays him $8 million annually.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Drew McIntyre made different choices?