There is a wealth of talent currently populating the WWE Universe that has been underutilized and mismanaged by the crack creative staff behind Vince McMahon’s sports-entertainment world, yet none are as ready to run with the proverbial ball than Drew McIntyre.
Despite arriving with a ton of momentum on his side after a phenomenal NXT run, McIntyre has been saddled in a tag team with Dolph Ziggler, a trio also involving Braun Strowman and positioned as Shane McMahon’s lapdog for reasons that make absolutely no sense. For whatever reason, WWE Creative has been hesitant to let The Scottish Psychopath break free and become the ass-kicking machine he should be.
That must change under the rule of Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff.
McIntyre is a rarity in today’s wrestling world. He had the most enviable position in all of sports entertainment when he broke onto the WWE main roster back in 2009. Anointed “The Chosen One” by Vinnie Mac, he was pushed from the very beginning but a lack of maturity and the drive he needed to see that push through led to a humiliating stint in 3MB and a one-way ticket to unemployment within five years.
Such an ordeal would have ended a lesser man’s career. Instead, McIntyre traveled the globe, working indie promotions and starring for Impact Wrestling, where he had more than a few excellent in-ring performances that reminded fans and critics alike of why he was once considered the can’t-miss prospect in WWE.
He dedicated himself to being better, to getting back in shape and to evolving his in-ring game. And now, after consistently strong performances across the WWE main roster and its developmental territory, he has earned a substantial push in which he shares the spotlight with no one.
One of the biggest issues facing today’s WWE product is the decided lack of quality heels, yet here is a certified badass from Scotland ready to wreak havoc on Reigns, Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, Ricochet or any other babyface the company programs him against and its first inclination is to…make him silent fodder to back up Shane-O-Mac?
There will be some that suggest McIntyre has benefited from his relationship with McMahon, that their pairing has earned him more television time and main event exposure than he may have otherwise enjoyed. While it is difficult to debate the television time and exposure he has enjoyed, it is equally as hard to argue that the partnership with McMahon has somehow done him a great service. After all, he has become a sidekick to the prodigal son rather than the unstoppable force someone of his size, look and ability should be.
Luckily for McIntyre, Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff arrive as Executive Directors of Raw and SmackDown Live, respectively, just in time to provide him a creative lifeline.
The dawn of a new era in WWE, at least creatively, benefits McIntyre. Surely, Heyman or Bischoff will recognize the asset the company has in The Scottish Psychopath and will utilize him in a way that not only generates heat but strengthens the babyfaces he works opposite of. And in the process, elevate his star to the level it deserves, rather than forcing him to the background of some so-so tag team, trio or business partnership.
At only 34 years of age, and with a decade of television time under his belt, McIntyre is in his prime as a performer. Wasting it for the sake of further building babyfaces that will never be as over as management wants without a quality heel, would be of great disservice to the performance and the company as a whole.
Perhaps most disappointing about his usage on television is the fact that McIntyre has already taken it upon himself to be a locker room leader. In an interview with TVInsider.com’s Scott Fishman, he even shared some advice to the Superstars making up today’s WWE locker room. “I’m here to take it to the next level and cleanup the crap and superstars who remind me of my old self who lost that fire. Perhaps they aren’t adding to the show. I know what it’s like. I was there. I’m trying to give them the answer. Don’t be like me. Figure it out while you are in the company because if you do it the way I did it, it’s not very easy. So start giving your all while you’re here and stop complaining on social media.”
It is time that McIntyre, once burdened by high expectations early in his career, finally have the opportunity to succeed at the top of an industry he has worked so tirelessly to excel in.
The new Executive Directors present that opportunity.
Otherwise, McIntyre may very well go down in history as one of the most wasted talents in the long and illustrious history of WWE.
Through no fault of his own.
McIntyre can next be seen teaming with Shane McMahon against Reigns and The Undertaker in a No Holds Barred Tag Team match at WWE Extreme Rules.
Erik Beaston is a Featured Writer for Bleacher Report. You can find more of his work here or follow him on Twitter @ErikBeaston.