Life is going well for Drew McIntyre. The 40-year-old Scot is once again world champion in WWE and heading toward WrestleMania with momentum on his side. Yet one thing still lingers in his mind. McIntyre had hoped to face John Cena in a singles match during Cena’s retirement year. It looked possible after they shared the ring in a tag bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event last August.
Two months later, plans were reportedly in place for McIntyre and Cena to clash at Crown Jewel in Australia. But the direction changed. Cena publicly teased a final match with AJ Styles, and fan reaction pushed WWE to pivot. That decision left McIntyre without the high-profile showdown he had envisioned.
Drew McIntyre reflects on John Cena fight snub and future WWE goals
Speaking to Sun Sports, Drew McIntyre explained that he only knew what was presented to him at the time. He admitted that creative plans can shift quickly backstage depending on different circumstances. He suggested there may have been other match ideas discussed, but he chose not to go into detail. Instead, he said he focuses on what he can control rather than what happens behind the scenes.
When he saw the social media reaction after John Cena’s comments, McIntyre said he was confused at first. It appeared to him as if fans believed a Drew versus Cena match had been officially announced and rejected. He later realized Cena had simply floated another idea involving AJ Styles, which understandably excited fans.
McIntyre joked that it would have been nice if Cena had mentioned his name on Twitter too.
Despite missing out, McIntyre said he would have loved the chance to share a ring or a promo with someone he considers one of the greatest with the mic in wrestling history. Still, he insisted there is no point dwelling on missed opportunities. In his view, things happen for a reason. Cena has now retired, and McIntyre stands as world champion, so he believes he is in a strong position.
The Scot recently headlined WWE’s European tour to huge crowds. He remains hopeful that the UK will soon host one of WWE’s big four events. While major shows now take place worldwide, he believes it is only a matter of time before the UK lands one. He hopes it happens while he is still competing.
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