WrestleMania 36 will mark the first time WWE has no live crowd for its signature show, and it will also be a two-night event. The company has decided the show has to go on, and so did we. WWE offered to media the interviews they couldn’t have done, and we will share them with you all week long. Legends, main roster, and NXT wrestlers, this week is all for them.
After 19 years in the business, Drew McIntyre looks to finally validate the nickname Vince McMahon gave him in his first WWE run, ‘The Chosen One’. At WrestleMania 36, the Scottish born professional wrestler will battle ‘The Beast’ Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, and not only does he look to finally ascend to the top of WWE mountain by winning the ultimate prize, but also make history by becoming the first British WWE champion.
Days before ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’, McIntyre discussed his incredible Rumble victory, WrestleMania changing from Raymond James Stadium to the Performance Center, his match with Lesnar, and WWE providing an escape for fans during this unprecedented time.
Looking back on Royal Rumble 2020:
“My lasting thoughts? It’s going to be my forever thoughts. Not only did I eliminate Brock Lesnar when he was peak beast, Brock Lesnar, running ruptured over everybody, I actually went ahead and won the Royal Rumble, eliminating my last year’s rival, Roman Reigns. Our number one guy right now. It’s just crazy to think of the journey that I’ve been on, and watching WrestleMania 30 on ESPN, seeing myself in the Andre The Giant Battle Royal as an afterthought, just thrown out. So knowing how much hard work has gone into the past six years is pretty wild to know, from that Royal Rumble match, I’m going into WrestleMania in the main event to fight Brock Lesnar for the WWE title.”
How it would feel to become the first British WWE Champion:
“Well, I don’t think there is quite the words for it. Personally, it’s going to mean the world. I’ve had visions of how it would go, you know, in that stadium with tens of thousands cheering. My family, friends, and wife are there, that’s how I envisioned it. But right now, looking at the bigger picture, the fact that I’ve got the opportunity to fight for the WWE title, on an 18-year journey, against Brock Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania. It’s not the ideal setting, but bigger picture, this could be the moment of escape for everybody. This will hopefully get people emotionally invested, thinking: “Wow, Drew could really do it,” and along with me becoming the WWE champion. Finally, after 19 years. Becoming the first British champion. Hopefully, it will make people feel something on a deeper level, and that’s very important to me too.”
Entertainment as escapism, now more than ever:
“I think, right now, whatever entertainment takes your mind off things or keeps you occupied is very essential right now. Everybody needs to lay low for a little while, and I know that’s not easy, especially for a lot of people around my area in Florida, with the beaches, etc. It’s spring break going on over here, but realistically, for the sake of others, everybody needs to lay low right now. Whatever keeps you entertained within your house is absolutely essential, and that’s why right now with WWE, I’m so proud that we’re doing what we can to provide everybody with some unique content, some unique entertainment to take their mind off things.
Obviously, we’re going through some serious safety protocols, very minimal numbers, and listening to the experts. But we’ll do what we can for as long as we can to take people’s minds off things. But whatever it is that keeps you occupied, stay indoors right now. Maybe you learn the guitar, maybe it’s WWE, maybe you’re reading that book you never quite got finished last year, but stick at it right now, because it’s for the good of everybody.”
What people should be watching on the WWE Network right now:
“I would recommend Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, WrestleMania 13 for start. That’s one of my favourite matches of all time. Anything during the Monday Night Wars, there’s a documentary on specifically the Monday Night Wars, which is very good. I’d recommend watching that, and once you’ve watched the documentary on the Monday Night Wars, you’ll get inspired to check out old RAW’s, old Nitro’s around about that time, and just watch the crowds and the amount of signs in the crowd during that period. It was the Wild West. That’s always pretty fun. And the Stone Cold interviews he has been doing recently, those are good. The Broken Skull Sessions. I just watched the one with Bret Hart, which I enjoyed a lot.”
What people can expect from his match with Brock Lesnar:
“If it was at Raymond James Stadium, you can expect myself and Brock Lesnar, who are known as physical performers, to have a pretty physical match that would be remembered for a long time. But now that we’re in the Performance Center, there’s nobody there. Like, I know there is nobody physically there, but there is millions that are there, watching through that lens. But realistically, this is going to be not unlike a bar fight, like a pub. Brock and I are two big men, and we are not afraid to hit or be hit. I think it’s going to be a match people will remember for the physicality.”
Why people should tune-in to WrestleMania:
“I think there is a number of reasons to tune in to WrestleMania this year. You know, I’m very proud that we’re bringing everybody original, unique content during these difficult times to take everybody’s mind off everything. We got some big matches, Edge has returned after nine years, in a personal and bitter rivalry with Randy Orton. You know, that’s a very big deal. But, Drew McIntyre is finally at the pinnacle of his 19-year quest for the WWE championship, and all I have to do is beat Brock Lesnar. And I’m gonna need as many people watching and sending out some positive energy to me as possible to take down ‘The Beast’. It’s going to be a huge night. I hope everybody can tune in, and I really hope that it gives everybody a few hours of entertainment over the 4th and 5th of April.”
WrestleMania airs live on the WWE Network on Saturday, April 4th, and Sunday, April 5th. Check your local listings to see if PPV coverage is available in your area.
Special thanks to DS Communication – All pics and videos courtesy of WWE