The last three years have been very kind to Drew McIntyre regarding his role at WrestleMania.
At WrestleMania 35, McIntyre faced off with Roman Reigns. The following year, in the main event of the second night of WrestleMania 36, the native of Scotland captured the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar. Then on night one of WrestleMania 37, McIntyre came up short in his quest to regain the WWE title from Bobby Lashley.
Coming up on Saturday at night one of WrestleMania 38, McIntyre is in a different position as he squares off with Happy Corbin in a grudge match. Some wrestlers would be upset about not being in one of the marquee matches of the biggest wrestling show of the year. However, McIntyre takes a different approach than most.
"That's the nature of this industry. There's going to be peaks. There's going to be valleys. Everything goes like this unless you're in (John) Cena’s position, Roman and maybe just dip slightly and mostly stay up here. The majority is going to be in a constant fight. Maybe something's gonna knock you down here, a storyline that's maybe not as compelling, you may have to dip a little bit, but it's up to you to keep fighting and keep making it interesting, make the best (of) whatever situation you're in because we're 52 weeks a year. It's not going to be the focus on you for the entire 52 weeks. Unfortunately, if that time is around WrestleMania, you might not be as much of a high-profile match.
"But for me personally this year, the big thing is I was perhaps not going to make Mania a full stop," McIntyre told DAZN.
"I have an interesting storyline going on with a guy who did try and take me out, and that's what it's about this year. The first year was about the glory, getting the chance on the big stage to take out Roman Reigns after he returned from leukemia. That was like a big return match for me on Mania. Then it was about the title and beating Brock. Then it was Bobby Lashley and fighting for the title once again. So that was all about glory and titles this year.
"This year from a storyline perspective, my character perspective, this one's personal. It’s like in the movies, but this time for Drew, it's personal. Every year is going to be different. Then next year, I'm sure it'll be something different as well. But ideally, I'll be fighting for the title."
The match that will close WrestleMania 38 on Sunday is between WWE champion Brock Lesnar and WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns in a title unification bout. The winner leaves AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with all the gold.
Reigns has stepped up his game since returning in August 2020 when he turned heel. He hasn't lost a match since December 2019. Meanwhile, Lesnar returned at SummerSlam wearing a cowboy hat, more jovial, but remaining the destructible force he's always been.
If McIntyre can escape past Corbin on Saturday, McIntyre wants the first crack against the new undisputed champion.
"I absolutely want the winner," McIntyre boldly said.
"When I came to SmackDown, I understand that WWE is 52 weeks a year. I don't have to jump straight to the finish line. I’m willing to work my way up (and) run through as many people as I have to run through (and) know that Roman is going to duck me at every corner he possibly can (and) duck me, considering what happened in our last match. He knows he's just one kick away from losing that title. But I went through enough people.
"I feel like I'm at the stage now that it's time to show the world what I can truly do. If I can’t step up to Roman’s level or Brock's level, whoever ends up being champion, I think quite frankly, I don't want to be part of Smackdown. It's as simple as that. I'm there to be the best. I'm not there to be the first runner up, the first loser."