Drew McIntyre is just trying to make towns.
McIntyre, the current Undisputed WWE Champion, spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard at WWE 2K26 Creator Fest. This is McIntyre’s third reign as WWE Champion, but the first two reigns took place during the pandemic, which meant no fans at events.
McIntyre said his current reign isn’t too much different, but his favorite aspect is actually getting to travel with the title and be on the road as champion.
“The big thing is obviously getting to travel with it and the fan aspect, but also just traveling with the title itself. I’m on the road 52 weeks a year because that’s the WWE schedule. So getting to go town to town with the title, from appearance to appearance, and represent as champion like I did on Zoom for so long when there were no fans and no traveling — that’s the big thing that’s very exciting for me,” McIntyre explained.
“Being able to walk into a room and have people say, ‘My God, you actually look like a wrestler. You look like a champion. The last few people we’ve had here looked like kids or fans in the crowd holding the titles.’ ‘It’s nice to see a wrestler who looks like a wrestler as champion.’”
Drew McIntyre passes the ‘airport test,’ but it’s not always fun
The airport test, in pro wrestling terms, is a way to describe a wrestler who has a “larger-than-life” presence that makes them instantly recognizable in a crowded, public area like an airport. McIntyre agreed that he does pass the test, but it’s actually more trouble than it’s worth now.
“Yeah, it drives me nuts, actually. But it’s a barometer of our industry, and I always say you don’t have to be 6’5″, 280 to pass the airport test,” McIntyre said. “You’ve got to find something that draws people to you. I know guys who are 5’8″, 5’9″ — there’s something so compelling about them. They’ll turn heads in the airport and make people look at them.
“But for me, I just try to get through the airport. It’s murder,” he added. “It used to be, ‘That’s Drew the wrestler,’ or ‘You look like you fell out of Game of Thrones, you Braveheart.’ What do you do now? Because of ESPN, Netflix, and all these giant platforms, it’s everybody: ‘Drew!’ across the airport. Come on. I’m just trying to get to the next place, brother.”
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