Drew McIntyre’s loss at the hands of Roman Reigns a little less than a year ago at Clash at the Castle remains one of WWE’s most missed opportunities – a blow only stymied by the continued success of The Bloodline Storyline and Reigns’ record-setting run as a WWE champion. But, while fans greeted McIntyre as a hero back then, it appears the O2 Arena in London might have to prepare themselves for the possibility of The Scottish Warrior turning heel at the event.
Raw, in the absence of its headline stars, has been suffering from a glaring void of top-tier talent. A situation exacerbated by the absence of Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre, leaving the show’s main event scene bereft of the intensity fans crave. However, one positive consequence of their extended hiatus is the greater visibility afforded to upper midcard villains such as Gunther, Finn Balor, and the rest of Judgment Day. But with Raw being forced to rekindle the Seth Rollins vs. Balor feud for the World Heavyweight Championship, despite its previous culmination in the WHC tournament, it underscores the scarcity of credible heels on Raw.
In these dire times, the potential return of Orton and McIntyre is akin to a beacon of hope.
McIntyre, despite having established himself as a successful babyface by winning the Royal Rumble and becoming a two-time WWE Champion, has recently hit a creative wall. However, the star’s dissatisfaction with his role could be an impetus for a thrilling heel turn, catapulting him back into the spotlight. Given McIntyre’s exceptional skills and charismatic presence, he could single-handedly bolster Raw’s current lineup of villains.
A successful McIntyre heel turn could be staged perfectly at the Money in the Bank event in London, where the Scot is one of the biggest stars. A surprise return, coupled with an attack on Rollins post a successful title defense, could spawn a tantalizing feud that could carry Raw right into SummerSlam.
However, the question of McIntyre’s return hangs in the balance. Reports suggest that his potential participation at Money in the Bank is still a matter of “creative choice”.
Whether that means it’s up to McIntyre or Triple H or maybe even Vince McMahon, who’s been puppeteering the WWE behind the scenes, remains unclear.
With his WWE contract running up by the end of the year, fans are eagerly waiting to see if the Scottish Warrior will ink a new deal with WWE and surprise them with a dramatic return.
Who knows? Orton and McIntyre could steal the spotlight and return as heels, the former of which has proven himself to be very effective at doing for most of his career.
With WWE’s latest venture in the United Kingdom just hours away, fans are keeping their fingers crossed for a return of their favorite stars, and perhaps the emergence of new rivalries and alliances. Whatever the outcome, WWE Money in the Bank 2023 promises to be a memorable event, further solidifying the WWE’s place in the annals of wrestling history.
