Drew McIntyre came back to WWE in 2017 during an NXT TakeOver event, but it seems the Scottish Warrior was actually in talks of joining NJPW before his WWE return.
While speaking on the No Contest wrestling podcast, Drew McIntyre stated that after being released from WWE, he realized that the setback might have been what he needed to push himself harder. During that time, Triple H kept an eye on his progress, with William Regal staying in touch and updating him.
“And uh, my first thought was, I mean, I am — it was only a month ago I got fired, but maybe I just needed a kick in the ass. And sure enough, Hunter was watching me that whole time, with William Regal especially keeping tabs and keeping him updated.”
By 2017, before returning to WWE, McIntyre was seriously considering joining New Japan Pro Wrestling and had already started speaking with the right people and serious discussions were had.
However, Regal advised him to talk with Triple H first. Just a minute into their conversation, McIntyre knew it was the right moment to come back to WWE.
“Then in 2017, before I returned to WWE, I was ready to go to New Japan at that point — that’s where my head was at. I spoke to the right people to start having serious conversations, and Regal told me, you gotta talk to Hunter first, gotta talk to Paul first. And one minute into that conversation, I knew it was time to come back.”
McIntyre’s path from being released to becoming one of WWE’s most respected locker room leaders stands as one of the greatest comeback stories in wrestling. It’s remarkable to think that it almost didn’t happen if not for that important phone call that convinced him to return. In the end, many fans believe he made the right decision to go back to WWE and that’s all that matters.
Would you have liked to see Drew McIntyre in New Japan Pro Wrestling — or was returning to WWE the right call? Share your thoughts below!
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October 28, 2025 12:21 pm
