What’s The Story
Drew McIntyre made his in-ring debut for NXT tonight at the Full Sail NXT television tapings. McIntyre was briefly shown in the audience at NXT TakeOver: Orlando last weekend that confirmed his return to WWE after three years.
In case you missed it
As you may all know, this is not McIntyre’s first run with the WWE. He was prominently featured and pushed as an up and coming major star in 2009. The peak of his WWE tenure at that time was an Intercontinental Championship run near the end of that year.
He also held the WWE Tag Team Titles with Cody Rhodes. McIntyre was widely regarded as a Vince McMahon favorite and therefore worked with some incredible opponents including The Undertaker, John Cena, The Miz, Kofi Kingston, and Matt Hardy.
He also wrestled in premiere matches including the Money In The Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 26 and the Elimination Chamber in 2011. McIntyre was also a founding member of comedy act Three Man Band or 3MB with Heath Slater and Jindar Mahal.
McIntyre left the WWE in 2014, but under the name Drew Galloway, achieved tremendous success on the independent scene with companies like ICW, PWG, Evolve, and more. In addition to his involvement on the indy scene, Galloway joined TNA in 2015 and became the first ever Scottish-born superstar to win the TNA World Championship.
The details
At tonight’s NXT tapings, McIntyre wrestled Oney Lorcan in a singles match. The match should air on the April 19th episode of NXT on the WWE Network.
Also read: Drew McIntyre reveals his reason for signing with NXT, Triple H reacts to McIntyre's signing
Impact
Drew Galloway was a very big draw while with TNA and on the independent circuit. He seemed to find himself and became a bigger star than he ever would have if he strictly stayed with the WWE. Because of that, signing Galloway back was a huge win for Triple H, NXT, and the WWE.
His signing comes at the perfect time with NXT losing its top main event talent like Shinsuke Nakamura, Tye Dillinger, and The Revival to main roster call-ups. To keep being a viable third brand, NXT needs new draws to go along with performers like Bobby Roode, Chris Hero, and Asuka. Drew McIntyre is bigger than all of them.
Author’s take
This is a major signing at the perfect time. NXT is starved for main event talent and Drew McIntyre certainly helps fill that void. He’s a tremendous worker that has the “look” of a WWE superstar. Looking at the landscape of NXT, he will be looked at as one of the main babyfaces on the roster and will undoubtedly cross paths with current NXT Champion Bobby Roode.
That will be a fun feud. Overall, the NXT and WWE Universe will see a different Drew McIntyre than the one that was in 3MB and that’s a good thing. He’s polished his craft on the indies and is now fully ready to be the main draw for the biggest wrestling company in the world.
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