The Inevitable Championship Clash Between Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre
Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre are no strangers to each other in the ring, they had a singles match at WrestleMania 35, went against each other in a tag team match at Extreme Rules where Reigns partnered up with Undertaker to take on Drew and Shane McMahon, had singles matches on Raw and a Champion vs Champion clash at Survivor Series 2020 which may have been their best clash to date.
In an article published by Connor Casey on ComicBook.com, Triple H stated at New York Comic last year that he believes Reigns vs. McIntyre has the potential to be the next Rock/Austin. ‘The Game’ would say, “I would love to see that percolate because I think that a couple of years down the road Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre is a Hulk Hogan-Ric Flair scenario, Rock-‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin scenario, and you don’t want to hit that before it peaks.”
On an appearance on the In The Kliq podcast on October 23rd, 2020, McIntyre gave his reactions to what Triple H had said about himself and Roman. “[Hearing that] was a surprise, but I was very appreciative of such a high compliment,” McIntyre said (h/t Wrestling Inc.). “Hunter – he’s the one who brought me back to WWE. He’s watched my entire career evolve and then devolve, and then re-evolve in front of his eyes. So it’s cool now, at this stage, that they can see me at such a level.”
McIntyre would continue to state that, “I think the thing is to keep us on the path we’re currently on.” Roman, keep doing what he’s doing with his new character, and me finally being myself.” He continues by saying that, “both of us are being ourselves now and keep developing these characters to get to the point where everybody knows them inside and out, and we take them as far as we can possibly take them. And eventually, when we have that big match down the line, it can be at that high, high level.”
Since returning to the WWE at the conclusion of SummerSlam 2020, laying waste to both Braun Strowman and ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt, Reigns has been on an absolute warpath, reinventing himself and finally succumbing to the heel nature that fans have clamored for for the longest.
Roman has found his niche, truly delivering some of his best work both promo and in-ring wise of his career, finally being allowed to be himself, aligning himself with Paul Heyman, helping Jey Uso breakout into a singles star, and crafting some of the best stories on SmackDown for almost a full calendar year as ‘The Tribal Chief.’
Drew McIntyre as we know has also been allowed to be himself, turning in some great promos and excellent in-ring work himself, and the two had an absolutely stellar and physical match at Survivor Series, leaving many of the WWE Universe wanting more.
A hungry McIntyre returning to the brand in which he originally debuted on to dethrone Reigns and become the Universal Champion is the only narrative you need, leave the storytelling to arguably the WWE’s two top Superstars and they’ll create some magic, especially if the story goes all the way until WrestleMania 38 in front of a raucous audience in Arlington, Texas.