Despite not appearing on WWE television since WrestleMania 39, Drew McIntyre’s name has been a permanent fixture in headlines for weeks.
On the eve of his match at the spectacular, it was reported that he is yet to agree a new contract with the company and will become a free agent in 2024.
Meanwhile, a more recent report revealed that he is open to leaving WWE should he not come to favourable terms with the company. The report added that McIntyre has become frustrated and there have been “several” miscommunications with the company. With regard to the Draft, McIntyre wasn’t told which brand he would be moving to, despite usually being informed.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T commented on the speculation around McIntyre and how likely it is that he’ll leave the company when his contract expires.
The WWE Hall of Famer suggested that McIntyre’s absence from the World Heavyweight Title tournament could be a signal that he’s heading for the exit. It is believed that McIntyre has been dealing with some kind of health issue in recent weeks, although there has been no official confirmation of his status.
“I heard Drew McIntyre’s contract is coming up, and he may be leaving to move on to other things. I don’t know. I don’t know how true that is. Him not being in this tournament kind of says a little bit of something, right? We’ll see how that plays out.”
Booker added that it could simply be a matter of the Scottish star wanting to step outside the WWE system while suggesting that keeping someone who doesn’t want to be there makes little sense.
“I say keep it like it is. For me, it’s about guys being able to make money,” he said. “I’m not looking for the monopoly in wrestling. I’m not looking to keep a guy if he don’t want to stay. If a guy want to leave, you let him leave. I think that right there opens up a little bit of everything as far as guys going from one side to the other and back.
So if a guy want to leave, let him leave. Drew McIntyre, he’s put in work in WWE, not just once, but twice. He knows what that system is all about. One thing about being in the system, after you’ve been in the system sometimes for so long, you want to get out.”
Drew McIntyre’s WWE Return A “Creative Issue”
While Drew McIntyre’s future remains uncertain, the most recent report on his status suggested that his return to the ring is being held up by creative.
McIntyre hasn’t wrestled since competing in a Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship on night two of WrestleMania 39.
H/t to Fightful