How Far Can Drew McIntyre Make It In WWE?

Drew McIntyre has been on fire since we last saw him in a WWE ring. He is better than ever, winning titles everywhere he’s been. McIntyre’s ability and track record speak for themselves, but just as apparent are WWE’s glass ceiling and their handling of him the last time he was there.

So it begs the question how far he can go in the present climate. NXT is going smoothly for him; yet, from there, it will be a different ballgame on either RAW or Smackdown Live. Undoubtedly, he has the ability and star quality to make it, but whether or not he does hinges on one thing: who is involved.

For McIntyre to succeed, there are two people who need to keep their hands off him and their opinions to themselves: Kevin Dunn and – none other than – Vince McMahon. Neither is likely to have Drew’s best interests in mind if they have any creative responsibility.

Kevin Dunn, for one, would hold back a McIntyre push for the shallowest of reasons.

This is the guy who soured on Becky Lynch because of her accent. Lynch has charisma, a unique look, and solid in-ring acumen. A major player in women’s wrestling, she is a former champ and captains one of Smackdown’s Survivor Series teams. She is by all rights a star but her accent holds her back because her promos annoy one person (think about that).

Dunn could quite possibly have a similar hangup with McIntyre, or enough people believe he does. Drew’s Scottish brogue isn’t as thick as it used to be, which is evident in his most recent interviews. That would indicate he is undergoing speech lessons. Not a good sign.

The correlation between Becky and Drew’s accents is obviously the foreign component.

Imagine, if you will, that in 2017 someone has to worry about their job or upward mobility because of how they talk. They have every other attribute that could get over (size, skill): that accent, though – better watch out.

It is truly ridiculous to say a non-American accent will hold somebody back in an era where wrestling’s audience is diverse and global, especially for somebody who speaks English fluently as a first language. Kevin Owens doesn’t get a lot of flak for the way he sounds, and his native tongue is French.

Moreover, back in the 80s, nobody ever complained about Ric Flair or Jesse Ventura or Bret Hart and their Minnesota or Canadian accents. Nor should they because their promos are (were) memorable and excellent. A funny voice didn’t hold Dusty Rhodes back, and he is the benchmark in the art of the promo.

As for Drew, nothing is wrong with his promos. He is engaging and passionate. In the ring and out, he is the total package, certainly as over as anyone due to what he brings to the table. They could forbid him from talking and give him a manager, but that would hurt his gimmick. Audiences would miss out on his galvanizing mic work.

Kevin Dunn should keep his mouth shut in order for Drew to remain consistent. Of course, that’s only the first hurdle; Vince would still be there to screw it up. While that remains to be seen, having the ultimate say, it is possible.

For a case in point, all you have to do is look at Drew’s first run in the company. Billed as The Chosen One, he showed promise and genuinely looked like a future star – until 3 Man Band. They squandered him with that sudden left turn and pretty much forgot him when they let him go.

History could repeat itself. Vince suffers the propensity of not seeing what he has because he has a vision in mind, even when he’s wrong. Dusty wore polka dots; we all remember. It doesn’t mean there was a good reason for it. (We also remember his “hard times” promo fondly. Which Dusty would you prefer?)

If McMahon thinks there is more money in a 3MB reunion (a la Shield) or sees Drew more in the mold of The Highlanders than what he’s currently doing, hope is in jeopardy.

NXT proves the Drew McIntyre we have is the way to go, and that he can fit into a main-event picture in a WWE setting. Don’t change the paradigm. Give the man what he needs to excel and resist micromanaging his trajectory to death.

If you followed Drew over the last few years, you know where he is headed – straight to the top. Put another way, The Yard is his if he wants it.