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WWE TLC 2020 began on a fantastic note with AJ Styles taking on Drew Mcintyre in a first-ever match for the WWE Championship. What made the match even more interesting is the fact that The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract during the match, and yet, Drew McIntyre retained the WWE Championship.
This comes a few days after the lowest-ever viewership numbers in the history of WWE RAW. One would have assumed that under such circumstances, WWE would have chosen to put the WWE Championship around the waist of one of the other Superstars involved in the big opening match.
So, the big money question is why Drew McIntyre retained the WWE Championship at TLC. To put your mind at ease, here are 5 possible reasons why.
Be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts and views.
#5 The Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus feud is yet to be explored after TLC
Sheamus and Drew McIntyre have been portrayed as the best of friends on WWE television thus far, and we know that every time that happens, there is bound to be a heel turn from one of the men involved.
Everyone knows that we are heading into a Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus match at some point down the line, and in fact, the heel turn could happen as quickly as RAW this week. It doesn't make sense to leave the feud for later, as we go into WrestleMania season, because we know the outcome of the match.
This is probably why the Scottish Warrior retained the WWE Championship because it doesn't make sense to build Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus and then just cancel the feud, all at once. It's a predictable feud, in terms of who will come out on top, but so was Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles.
#4 Possible WrestleMania plans for Drew McIntyre may already be in place
If the Twitter account WrestleVotes, which has regularly broken news in the past is to be believed, then WrestleMania plans for Drew McIntyre may already be in place, which is why the title was probably kept around his waist at TLC.
While the report states that nothing has been set in stone, Drew McIntyre, Brock Lesnar, and Keith Lee could certainly have a big match, and that is not a reference to the size of all three men.
Yes, this match could also happen without Drew McIntyre holding the WWE Championship, but it would be a very odd match then, especially if Brock Lesnar is coming back for a big payday. It just makes sense for Drew McIntyre to carry the WWE Championship all the way to WrestleMania, considering that he just won it back from Randy Orton.
Plus, there is the element of a Drew McIntyre vs. Brock Lesnar rematch that can be explored, with the UFC star returning to reclaim the title he lost to Drew McIntyre.
#3 AJ Styles and The Miz won't turn RAW's viewership numbers around
Sure, AJ Styles has been one of the most entertaining components of the WWE RAW brand thus far, and he just seems like a much bigger star since his alliance with his massive associate. Similarly, The Miz and John Morrison are certainly a very entertaining duo as well, and they have certainly made RAW very watchable.
That said, even though RAW probably needs an overhaul when it comes to the way that the creative team approaches its storylines, The Miz and AJ Styles as the face of the brand aren't necessarily the answer to their woes. There is something about both men that screams mid-card, in the current environment, when compared to Drew McIntyre, considering their booking over the past year.
And this is probably the reason why The Miz failed his cash-in attempt as well. It's impossible to imagine him being the face of the WWE RAW brand under the current circumstances, especially when the viewership figures are so very low currently.
#2 Pinning the blame on Drew McIntyre for poor viewership is a mistake
Drew McIntyre is just an actor, a performer at the most, who carries out instructions on behalf of the WWE creative team and the actual head of the table, Vince McMahon. He has carried the RAW brand during the pandemic era, and the fact that his coronation and reign came at a point when there are no crowds in attendance has worked against him. Drew McIntyre is a good promo, a fantastic worker, and has a majestic look that few others in the industry do.
Because Drew McIntyre has been a major WWE project from the very start, it is unlikely that they will treat him as the scapegoat in these dire and uncertain times.
Vince McMahon probably knows that it's only a matter of time before crowds are back in the arena again and the roar for Drew McIntyre at the time would be tremendous. To give up on Drew McIntyre, a once-in-a-lifetime athlete, would be criminal at this point in time.
#1 The possibility of a Drew McIntyre vs. Bray Wyatt feud at some point down the line
A long time ago, after Drew McIntyre first won the WWE Championship, he caught up with SK Wrestling and you can check out the conversation by clicking on the link shared above.
Drew McIntyre has taken on all comers for the WWE Championship, but there may be one dream match that is yet to be explored. He has not yet tangled with 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt, even though it is a pretty big ticket match.
Drew McIntyre vs. Bray Wyatt would be a very hard match to predict, especially if it happens in a cinematic environment, a kind of match that Drew McIntyre may not be particularly familiar with. And even if it's a regular match, how many Claymores will it take to keep Bray Wyatt down for good?
It may be a good way to have Drew McIntyre in the WWE Royal Rumble 2021 card in a marquee match, and not have The Fiend lose his mystique by going over the top rope (provided both men clash at the pay-per-view, that is).
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