From rock bottom to WWE champion: Drew McIntyre's road back

Released in 2014, the Scottish star spent three years adrift before his wife's intervention set him on the path to redemption

Drew McIntyre celebrates after defeating Damian Priest at WWE WrestleMania 41 in April last year. [Getty Images]

WWE star Drew McIntyre (41, Britain) has opened up about the years he spent drinking heavily after his mother's death — and how he clawed his way back to the top of professional wrestling.

McIntyre appeared on Stephanie McMahon's podcast "What's Your Story?" to reflect on his mother's battle with cancer, her passing, and the turbulent period that followed his release from WWE.

The Scotland native dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler from childhood. With his family's support, he made his way to the United States and broke into WWE, earning recognition in 2009 as a promising prospect personally backed by then-Chairman Vince McMahon.

His mother's illness and death, however, shook him to his core. McIntyre recalled turning to alcohol to cope with his grief, neglecting his own well-being in the process. He said he lost his positive outlook during that period, spending more time complaining about his circumstances than holding himself accountable. His standing within WWE eroded, and he was ultimately released in 2014.

After his release, McIntyre worked the independent wrestling circuit in Britain and the United States, winning titles across multiple promotions and rebuilding his reputation as a performer. But his personal struggles were far from resolved.

Drew McIntyre makes his entrance for an unsanctioned match against Jacob Fatu at WWE WrestleMania 42, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, in April. [Getty Images]

The turning point came from his wife. McIntyre said she confronted him about his excessive drinking and lifestyle, calling for change. At the time, he brushed off her concerns, telling himself his in-ring results and income were improving — but he eventually took a hard look at how he was living.

He reined in his drinking and refocused on conditioning and training. The turnaround paid off. McIntyre returned to WWE in 2017, three years after his release, and in 2020 defeated Brock Lesnar to capture the WWE Championship — a remarkable comeback for a man who had once been shown the door.

Known by the nickname "The Scottish Warrior," McIntyre stands 196 centimeters tall and weighs 125 kilograms. His signature finishing move is the Claymore — named after a type of Scottish broadsword — in which he charges at his opponent and drives one leg into them while airborne. He also relies on the Future Shock DDT, which sees him lock an opponent's head between his arms before slamming them into the mat, and the Glasgow Kiss, a headbutt strike. His combination of raw power and explosive offense is widely regarded as his greatest asset.

During the interview, McIntyre also spoke of his mother, who never stopped believing in him. He said he treasures the fact that she lived to see him enter WWE and witness his early success.

Beyond the ring, McIntyre has been expanding into acting, taking part in the Highlander remake film and a short-form video series called "Agent of Shadows."

yjc@heraldcorp.com