“I Just Messed Up My Whole Career”- Drew McIntyre Details his First Meeting with Vince McMahon

In 2007, Drew McIntyre stepped through the curtains of FCW, WWE’s former developmental territory. He moved up the ranks and became a superstar to watch out for, but his career derailed majorly. After being released, McIntyre found his glory back and became wrestling’s most alluring property, attracting the attention of WWE CEO Vince McMahon.

Drew McIntyre had a nervous first meeting with Vince McMahon

When Drew McIntyre returned to WWE, he went down to NXT, where he won the NXT Championship within a few months. His main roster run began spectacularly as well. In 2020, McIntyre reached the pinnacle of pro wrestling when he won the Royal Rumble and the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 36.

However, McIntyre’s first meeting with Vince McMahon did not go well. Appearing on the Out of Character podcast with Ryan Satin, Drew McIntyre detailed his first encounter with Vince.

“A couple. The first one was about my first day on the road,” said McIntyre. I remember he sat in front of me and I panicked and I introduced myself. And he knew who I was, gave me some advice. I mumbled some stuff in my very thick Scottish accent, especially back then. He stood up, nodded, walked off, and I thought, I just messed up my whole WWE career.”

After a failed run, WWE released Drew McIntyre, and he returned to the indies. Fortunately, he turned his career around, forcing WWE to sign him again. He then became NXT Champion, a tag team champion and a two-time WWE Champion.

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Drew reveals scrapped gimmick plan

Before he became the Chosen One, WWE cast Drew McIntyre in a bizarre role. They labelled it ‘The Runway Man’; basically a model who wrestles. When this storyline tanked, there was no one happier in WWE than Drew McIntyre.

“When I was about to come out of FCW, I remember the character, and some people have heard of this but many haven’t, but my character pitch was gonna be The Runway Man where I was gonna be a male model, and I think this is what became of Fandago, eventually. It was kinda modified but yeah, there was gonna be a catwalk and I was gonna walk to the ring as a male model.”

Drew sat down with Vince and explained why he didn’t fit the role. Instead of getting rid of them initially, Vince kept him on and the rest is history.

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