List Of Top WWE Wrestlers With Their Net Worth

BY SACNILK

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has revealed that he is exploring the possibility of pursuing music more seriously, with the WWE legend and Hollywood superstar specifically expressing an interest in traditional country music. Johnson discussed the possibility during a new interview with Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt, following the debut of the music video for his song “Your Dad.” Rather than announcing a full-time transition into music, Johnson explained that he is currently exploring where his passion for music could take him. “I’m exploring that now, and I appreciate you asking that,” Johnson said. “As you roll along in life, I’ve been real fortunate to be part of some really cool projects, and love it. But music has always been such an anchor for me, and very specifically in genres that I love, like country music, traditional country music, and we’re exploring that now.” The comments are significant because Johnson has already shown that music is more than a one-off experiment for him. His career has included musical performances during his WWE run, his work as Maui in Moana, and collaborations outside of his acting career. The 54-year-old explained that his priorities have evolved as he has progressed through his career. After years of working on major Hollywood productions and other high-profile projects, Johnson said he wants the things he pursues to genuinely excite him. “I’ve reached this point in my life and in my career where, honestly, Brian, when I wake up in the morning, I swing my legs out of bed, and whatever the thing is that I’m doing, I wanna feel like I’m just running towards it,” Johnson explained. He also described the difference between working on projects designed for a large commercial audience and creating something simply because it has personal meaning. “And the most gratifying things we do are when it’s for us, because we have enough pressure to deliver for so many other entities,” Johnson said. That distinction is particularly important when it comes to “Your Dad.” While Johnson understands the commercial expectations attached to major movies and entertainment projects, he said the song was created without those same pressures. “The things we do, we must do them for ourselves, and then we must feel it in here, behind our ribcage,” Johnson said. “But they’re also always connected to some sort of commerce.” Johnson then explained why “Your Dad” is different from the films and other major projects associated with his career. “You make films, especially the big four-quadrant movies, you want them to do well,” he said. “But this song, for me, is just a song to my daughters.” For Johnson, the song is therefore not about proving himself as a recording artist or chasing commercial success. He specifically emphasized that he doesn't want the song to be judged by the usual measurements attached to entertainment. “Where there’s no pressure of an expectation to deliver something that, ‘Well, how are the sales, and how’s the box office? How’s the streams?’ It’s just from me to them,” he said. Music has already appeared at several points throughout Johnson's career. During his WWE days, he performed “It Doesn't Matter” with Wyclef Jean, while he later appeared on Tech N9ne's “Face Off.” His performance as Maui in Moana also introduced his singing to a much wider mainstream audience. The actor is also continuing his connection with Moana, with the live-action adaptation keeping him in the role of Maui. But his latest comments suggest that his musical ambitions could extend beyond the character that first brought his singing to a massive audience.

BY SACNILK

Roman Reigns has once again become the subject of debate among wrestling fans, this time after Conrad Thompson described the former Undisputed WWE Champion as “probably the most overrated main event in WWE history.” Booker T, however, strongly disagrees with that assessment. During a recent episode of the Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T addressed Thompson’s comments and made it clear that he believes Reigns deserves far more credit for what he has accomplished at the top of WWE. “I mean, it’s like, you know, a mountain compared to a molehill. That’s how big of a, you know, a stretch this comment is as far as Roman Reigns,” Booker T said. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer then delivered his strongest endorsement of Reigns, explaining why he considers the former Tribal Chief the best wrestler in the world at this stage of his career. “Roman Reigns, I’ve said it once. I’ve said it a thousand times. Right now, at this stage of the game, Roman Reigns is the best damn wrestler in the world,” Booker T stated. Booker T argued that Reigns’ record in major matches speaks for itself. According to him, Reigns has repeatedly produced strong performances against different opponents, while also helping elevate the talent around him. “I know if a guy can make it in this business. If he get in my ring, I know if he’s going to have a chance at making it,” Booker explained. “And when I watch a guy like Roman, who’s had nothing but flawless matches with every guy that has stepped in the ring with him on the biggest stages there have been.” Booker also pointed toward Reigns’ ability to bring out the best in his opponents, insisting that the evidence can be found by simply going back and watching his matches. “Go pull them up. That’s all you got to do. The proof is in the pudding. All you got to do is the video. The video don’t lie,” Booker said. He went even further, claiming that Reigns has consistently helped his opponents deliver some of their best performances. “Every guy that has been in the ring with Roman Reigns, they’ve had their best match. Every one of them. Every guy that get in the ring with Roman, that’s the best match they’re going to have the year. All right. And that’s just fact,” Booker added. Brad Gilmore, Booker’s co-host, also pushed back against Thompson’s assessment. He pointed to Reigns’ WrestleMania matches against CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, as well as his recent clash with Seth Rollins, as examples of the level Reigns has consistently reached. Booker T then questioned who could realistically replace Reigns as WWE’s leading attraction. “I would love to know who would he put in Roman Reigns’ spot. That’s what I would want. Who do you put in Roman Reigns’ spot that’s going to go out there and carry that?” Booker asked. The WWE Hall of Famer also highlighted the enormous responsibility that comes with being positioned as a company’s top star. In his view, Reigns has demonstrated that WWE can trust him to perform when the pressure is highest. “The company do not put you in that spot unless they trust you to be able to do that,” Booker explained. “What I mean by being able to trust you is trust you to make every big event, trust you to be able to, you know, strap it up when you’re really not, you know, 100%.” Booker ultimately described Reigns as the complete package, pointing to his wrestling ability, storytelling, presence and star power. “If I had to draw up what the prototypical superstar will look like, it’d be Roman Reigns,” Booker T said. He later doubled down on his assessment, stating that Reigns’ years at the top and the pressure he has handled inside and outside the ring have been extraordinary. “This dude Roman Reigns is truly the real deal,” Booker said. “What he’s done over his time at the top, at that top level, with the pressure that he’s had inside and out of the ring, has been extraordinary. It really has been.” Booker T’s comments come as the debate surrounding Roman Reigns’ place among WWE’s all-time greats continues. While Conrad Thompson remains firm in his criticism, Booker clearly believes Reigns has already done enough to prove himself as one of the defining stars of his generation.

BY SACNILK

Nikki Cross has opened up about the difficulty of saying goodbye to her Abby the Witch character following her WWE departure, admitting that the end of her Wyatt Sicks run came as an unexpected development. The Wyatt Sicks debuted in June 2024 as a supernatural faction created to continue the creative legacy of the late Bray Wyatt, who passed away in August 2023. The group was led by Bo Dallas, portraying Uncle Howdy, alongside Nikki Cross (Abby the Witch), Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan. In a recent sit-down interview with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE Superstar Nikki Cross explained that she became deeply attached to every character she portrayed during her wrestling career, but Abby held a particularly special place in her heart because of the meaning behind the character and its connection to Bray Wyatt. “It was unexpected. It was unexpected. And for every character I've played, whether it be Sanity, whether it be Nikki A.S.H., even Nikki Storm when I said goodbye to her in 2016 before I joined WWE and Abby the Witch, you always feel for me, I always feel attached to the characters. So, it's always difficult to say goodbye.” Cross also reflected on her decade-long WWE run and the relationships she formed during that period, while making it clear that she is looking forward rather than dwelling on the past. “With WWE, I was there for 10 years. I got to travel the world. I got to make amazing friends, make these incredible friendships with people like Sarah Schreiber or with people like Julia and I get to take them forever, you know. With WWE, I was there for 10 years. So, it's always hard to say goodbye to such a substantial, significant chapter in your life. And that being said, I'm so excited for my next chapter and I'm so excited for what's next for myself.”

BY SACNILK

Nikki Cross has revealed how she developed the backstory for Abby the Witch, explaining that she wanted to honor Bray Wyatt's original vision while still putting her own creative stamp on the character. Cross said Abby was originally Bray Wyatt's creation, which meant she felt a responsibility to treat the character with particular care. “So, Abby the Witch, you know, she was Bray Wyatt's creation. She was Bray Wyatt's. You know that there was the character of Abby was already kind of an image in the WWE audience's mind. So for me I had to take, okay, this was Bray's brainchild. So, how do I take that? And how do I, you know, pay my respects to that? Pay homage to that, but also make it my own and do something that I wanted Bray to be proud of and I wanted his family to be proud of.” Cross revealed that she combined elements of the character with parts of her own history and the earlier Nikki Cross persona. “The backstory I came up with was, you know, that little girl in Glasgow, Scotland, that didn't always fit in and she was always wanting to fit in. And then I took a little bit of what I had explored with the Sanity Nikki Cross character and kind of tried to merge them.” For Cross, Abby was more than simply an on-screen persona. She said the mask itself eventually became something she felt emotionally attached to, describing it as almost a source of comfort. “I was so protective of Abby. And I would always carry the mask. The mask ended up becoming almost like a comfort to me, like a comfort. Like I would pretend almost like it was my Chihuahua who I was stroking, but it would be the Abby mask and I would always be holding or whether I was valeting the live events or at the television. And she became so much more than a prop to me. This was the girl that could get me through anything.” Cross added that she wanted to ensure the character respected Wyatt's legacy while also becoming something uniquely her own.

BY SACNILK

In a recent sit-down interview with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE Superstar Nikki Cross revealed that one of her most memorable on-screen personas — Nikki A.S.H., short for "Almost a Superhero" — wasn't handed to her by WWE's creative team. It was her own idea, and she took it straight to the top. Cross explained that the concept grew out of a period when she had little going on in WWE storylines. Her tag team with Alexa Bliss was winding down as Bliss became more involved with Bray Wyatt-related stories, leaving Cross searching for her next chapter. Drawing on her lifelong love of superheroes — she cited the 1990s X-Men cartoon, Rogue, and Storm as major influences — she noticed WWE hadn't had a female superhero-style character since Hurricane Helms and Mighty Molly. She saw an opening and decided to build a pitch around it. Cross didn't just show up with an idea — she put together a full presentation. She commissioned a Scottish artist to design mock-up artwork of the character, complete with a blue-and-gold X-Men-inspired color scheme, a cape, a mask, and a lightning bolt nodding to her independent-circuit persona, Nikki Storm. She even researched box office numbers from major superhero films like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel to support her case that the concept could be commercially successful. With time running short before Raw, she waited outside Vince McMahon's office for several hours to deliver what she described as an elevator pitch — a quick case for why the character would work and make WWE money. Weeks passed with no word. Then, on Mother's Day, McMahon texted her his verdict, calling the idea "genius" and instructing the creative team to move forward with it. McMahon did put his own stamp on the character, though. He steered it away from Cross's more elaborate original vision — closer to Captain Marvel — toward something simpler and more relatable, in the mold of early Spider-Man. The result was "Nikki Almost a Superhero": a character who isn't a true superhero, but believes she is one anyway. The character resonated. Cross went on to win Money in the Bank as Nikki A.S.H. and cashed in the very next night to become Raw Women's Champion — a milestone she has called the product of years of preparation meeting the right timing. She also credited a specific piece of advice from Hurricane Helms, whom she calls "papa," for shaping the character's execution: no matter what happened in a match, the mask could never come off, since a superhero losing their mask on live television would undercut the entire gimmick. That guidance led to several redesigns of the mask before the team landed on one secure enough for in-ring competition. Cross recently left WWE after a decade with the company and has since returned to the independent scene under her original ring name, Nikki Storm, following her and her husband's acquisition of the UK promotion Progress Wrestling.

BY SACNILK

Monday, August 10, 2026, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix Raw emanated from Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia and aired starting at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. It was a big night for the Bloodline saga, as Jey Uso defeated Solo Sikoa in a high-stakes Bloodline matchup, IYO SKY teamed with Sol Ruca for a victory over Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez, and Penta advanced in the World Heavyweight Title No. 1 Contender's Tournament with a win over Laredo Kid. Elsewhere, Austin Theory dominated Akira Tozawa, Dragon Lee upset Dominik Mysterio, Big Cass continued his rampage, and Stephanie Vaquer and Becky Lynch both returned to set their sights on Women's World Champion Liv Morgan. Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa face-to-face (Bloodline Stipulation) The show opened with Solo Sikoa mocking The Usos, taunting that he was standing right there in Norfolk. That brought out Jey Uso's music, and Jey made his way to the ring, asking Sikoa if he really wanted to do this and telling him he needed Sikoa to fall in line with The Bloodline. Sikoa fired back, asking Jey how "falling in line" had worked out for him, pointing out that Jey looked like he'd fallen off instead — despite being a former World Heavyweight Champion, a former Men's Royal Rumble winner, and the man who beat GUNTHER at WrestleMania. Sikoa flatly refused to come back to the family, telling Jey that everyone in Virginia loved where he was at right now. Jey told Sikoa to be quiet, reminding him who he was talking to and reminding him that it was Jey and Jimmy Uso who raised and fed him — everything Sikoa had, he had because of them. Jey then challenged Sikoa to a match and fired off a warning shot. Sikoa ducked it, turned to check on the fans behind him, then accepted the challenge — telling Jey that once he beat him, The Bloodline could leave him alone for good, and fired back his own warning shot at Jey. World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Penta def. Laredo Kid This one kicked off the bracket that will determine who challenges Roman Reigns for the title on the Sept. 14 edition of Raw. Laredo Kid pushed the former Intercontinental Champion throughout the match, but a missed aerial attack allowed Penta to deliver a crushing Mexican Destroyer for the victory. With the win, Penta advances to the semifinals, where he'll await the winner of the bout between Psycho Clown and La Parka. Analysts going in considered Penta the favorite to eventually win the whole tournament and challenge Reigns at AAA Triplemanía in Mexico City. It's a strong start for Penta as WWE leans into the AAA crossover storyline. Austin Theory def. Akira Tozawa Tozawa was looking for payback after The Vision's vicious beatdown of Otis a few weeks earlier, hoping to get some measure of revenge against Austin Theory. Instead, Theory closed the match out with an Off Switch that nearly sent Tozawa's teeth flying. Immediately after, as The Vision prepared to pile on for a post-match beatdown, Oba Femi rushed the ring to stop it and once again squared off face-to-face with Bron Breakker before officials separated them. This continues the simmering issue between Femi and Breakker, hinting at a future confrontation. Becky Lynch & Stephanie Vaquer Confrontation / Liv Morgan Segment Both returning stars made their presence felt as Stephanie Vaquer came to the ring, told the fans she'd missed them, and said what she'd missed most was striking fear into Liv Morgan while railing against The Judgment Day, only for Becky Lynch to interrupt with a stare-down. The tension between the two carried into the night's chaos when The Man and La Primera both attempted to take out Women's World Champion Liv Morgan, but ended up getting in each other's way, allowing Morgan to escape. This sets up a fascinating three-way dynamic between Lynch, Vaquer, and Morgan heading toward the title picture. It's clear both former champions want a shot at Morgan's title, but their rivalry with each other may complicate that pursuit. Dragon Lee def. Dominik Mysterio Dominik came in with a chip on his shoulder after being excluded from the World Heavyweight No. 1 Contender's Tournament, looking to take his frustrations out on Dragon Lee. It was Lee, though, who brought the intensity, as both luchadors battled in the air before the match was ultimately decided on the ground with an Operation Dragon, extending Mysterio's losing skid. The post-match was where things got ugly, as Big Cass continued his rampage on Raw by assaulting both Dragon Lee and Je'Von Evans. Evans had rushed out to try to save Lee from Cass but paid a steep physical price for it. Sol Ruca & IYO SKY def. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez The mystery-partner storyline for Sol Ruca was resolved when IYO SKY emerged as her partner, immediately shaking the confidence of The Judgment Day. Rodriguez and Perez dominated the early part of the match, but SKY and Ruca eventually took control through high-flying offense. The finish saw Ruca drop jaws with an impressive Pop Rox reversal into a superkick that set up the match-ending Sol Snatcher. Notably, Danhausen had also offered to team with Ruca against The Judgment Day earlier in the show, adding a comedic subplot to the build. Jey Uso def. Solo Sikoa Later in the night, "Main Event" Jey Uso officially promised to beat Solo Sikoa and deliver him to World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns — following through on the stipulation set earlier. When the match itself got going, Sikoa came out firing, "backing it up" Rikishi style in an homage to their father, taking the wind out of Jey early. But just as it looked like Sikoa might find his way out of the trap, Jimmy Uso crashed the match and set up Jey for a Spear and Uso Splash combination that sealed Sikoa's fate. With the win, Jey makes good on his vow from earlier in the night, and Solo is now set to be delivered to Roman Reigns — deepening the Bloodline civil war heading into the fall.

BY SACNILK

Paul Wight has pointed to Stone Cold Steve Austin as one of the major reasons traditional wrestling heels became harder to maintain, arguing that Austin’s popularity fundamentally changed the way audiences viewed villainous characters. While appearing on Planet Tyrus, Wight discussed how the wrestling business has evolved and reflected on the changing role of heels and babyfaces. He specifically brought up Austin’s legendary run during the Attitude Era, explaining that the WWE Hall of Famer was technically positioned as a heel at one point, but his actions made him hugely popular with fans. Wight said: “I blame Stone Cold for killing heels in wrestling. Because he was—because he did—he was supposed to be the bad guy, but kicking your boss’s ass, he touched the heart and minds of every person.” Wight's comments came while discussing how modern professional wrestling is increasingly influenced by social media, short-form videos and crowd reactions. He argued that wrestlers today can become more focused on creating moments designed for social media rather than allowing a complete story to unfold inside the ring. Earlier in the discussion, Wight criticized the modern emphasis on quick clips and audience engagement, saying that wrestling can sometimes become about getting a reaction rather than telling a complete story. He explained that the traditional dynamic was much simpler: a heel was supposed to be booed, while a babyface was supposed to be cheered. However, Austin's immense popularity blurred that distinction. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion also acknowledged the circumstances surrounding Austin's rise. He noted that the rise of the New World Order had already changed the traditional babyface-versus-heel formula, meaning Austin's character was part of a broader evolution in professional wrestling.

BY SACNILK

Chelsea Green closed out SummerSlam weekend as a champion, outlasting a chaotic multi-woman ladder match to climb up and pull down the interim women's title — a win that capped a WWE run stretching back to her 2014 debut and came after years of near-misses, injuries and being repeatedly passed over for bigger opportunities. The match saw Green battle through a field that included Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill before the finish came down to who could brave the ladder itself, with Green beating the rest of the field to the top. Chelsea Green sat down with Nikki and Brie on "The Nikki & Brie Show" and opened up about a night she says played out nothing like she expected. Green admitted she assumed nerves would take over once the moment finally arrived. "I thought I would be nervous when this moment came," she said, "I thought I would be so nervous." Instead, she said she felt unusually calm walking to the ring: "I felt very at peace. I was like, whatever happens, happens." She described losing herself in the entrance itself, saying the walk to the ring felt less like a wrestling match and more like a performance. "I do feel like I kind of blacked out," Green said, "It was like it felt like my concert." She said she spent the early moments soaking it all in — talking with fellow competitor Tiffany Stratton and waving to her parents at ringside. That calm didn't last. Green said the emotion built steadily as the match wore on, because she knew what was coming. By the time she was dangling from the ladder as Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill took the match's final bump, she said the feeling shifted entirely. "I felt like electric," she said. "I felt just like the whole crowd started like rumbling ... this is our moment." Green raced to the top of the ladder at what she called "record speed," saying she hauled herself up out of pure urgency. Part superstition, part disbelief, she said she didn't want to give anyone a chance to change her fortune. "If I don't get up there and climb that ladder and grab that title down, they could change the finish," she said. "This is all these thoughts going on. I'm like, no, not today." She said the significance of the moment hit her before she'd even unhooked the title, describing years of sacrifice flashing through her mind at the top of the ladder. Green pointed to more than a decade in the business — roughly "12, 13 years" — during which she said she missed close friends' weddings and the births of their children, missed her own father's wedding, broke bones, and underwent heart surgery. "So much has led me to like scurrying up that ladder," she said. Green also revealed that WWE Superstar Bayley reached out afterward, amazed by how fast she'd climbed. "Bayley texted me the other day and said, 'Girl, I've never seen someone climb a ladder so fast,'" Green recalled. Looking back, Green said the reality of the moment surpassed even her most hopeful daydreams about it. "It was even better than I had dreamt of," she said, adding that for years she'd quietly accepted the title shot might never come. "It was so far-fetched," she said. "I hope this happens. I wish it would happen, but like it probably won't — and I've come to terms with that, too." She said she could hear everything happening around her in the moment — including her mother's voice from the crowd. "I heard it all," Green said, "and I was actually upside down and a referee was ... saying sweet nothings to me as I was upside down." She added that she still doesn't know which referee it was, but praised the encouragement referees give wrestlers mid-match, calling it a meaningful and often overlooked part of the business. Even hours later and running on no sleep, Green said she was determined not to let the feeling slip away. "I'm still on cloud nine. I'm riding a high," she said. "I'm trying to make the most out of every single second."

BY SACNILK

AJ Styles has spent more than two decades competing at the highest levels of professional wrestling, working across WWE, TNA, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Along the way, the former WWE Champion has developed a clear philosophy about what actually separates a great match from an ordinary one — and it has nothing to do with move counts. Speaking on The AJ Styles Show, Styles broke down his approach to match construction, explaining why he believes performers can get too caught up in packing their bouts with impressive sequences instead of asking a more fundamental question first. For Styles, the starting point of any match isn't "what can we do" — it's "what are we trying to say." "Let's not think about how many moves we can squeeze into this match," he said. Styles said the key is to keep one question at the center of the entire process, from the opening bell to the finish. "What's the story we're telling?" he said. "If we start doing that from beginning to end, the product's gonna elevate." Beyond structure, Styles emphasized that the best wrestling connects emotionally. It's not enough to execute a move correctly; the performer has to communicate what their character is feeling in that moment. "At the highest level, being able to communicate and make people feel what you're feeling is what it's all about," Styles said. That belief has taken on new significance as Styles steps into a backstage producing role within WWE, most recently working NXT matches and passing his experience on to the next generation of talent. Styles' comments double as advice for younger wrestlers trying to stand out early in their careers. In his view, performers can become so focused on cramming in impressive sequences that they lose sight of the bigger picture: connecting with the crowd. A wrestler can land every move cleanly, but if the audience doesn't understand the characters, the stakes, or the reason behind the action, something essential is still missing. Having performed at the top level across multiple promotions worldwide, Styles has seen how different wrestling environments approach the craft. Now, as he transitions into a behind-the-scenes role, that same philosophy is shaping how he mentors the wrestlers coming up behind him — not by teaching them how to hit a move, but by teaching them why it matters. For AJ Styles, greatness in the ring was never about doing more. It was always about telling a better story.

BY SACNILK

Drew McIntyre's WWE comeback could have looked very different. After being released by WWE on June 12, 2014, McIntyre spent roughly three years rebuilding himself outside the company. He wrestled around the world under the name Drew Galloway and gradually developed into a far more established performer before WWE came calling again. When that opportunity finally arrived, however, McIntyre did not want to simply walk back into Raw or SmackDown. Speaking about his return during his conversation with Stone Cold Steve Austin, McIntyre explained that Triple H and William Regal had been following his career during his time away from WWE. “He'd been watching what I was doing, was kinda proud of what I'd achieved as a wrestler but, more importantly, how I'd grown as a man and where I was at,” McIntyre recalled. That phone call from Triple H was particularly meaningful because McIntyre knew he had earned another opportunity with WWE rather than simply being handed one. “And, you know, we both decided it was time to come back home,” McIntyre said. McIntyre Had His Mind Made Up. Once Triple H explained that the plan was for him to return through NXT, McIntyre did not need much convincing. In fact, the former WWE Superstar said he was effectively sold on the idea within the first few minutes. “I was coming back. I was sold within the first five minutes,” McIntyre said. But there was an important reason why NXT appealed to him. McIntyre believed the NXT audience consisted of the hardcore wrestling fans who had followed his career outside WWE. These were fans who knew what he had accomplished as Drew Galloway on the independent scene and could therefore understand how much he had changed since his first WWE run. McIntyre revealed that he was very clear with Triple H about where he wanted to begin. “I won't go to ‘Raw.’ I won't go to ‘SmackDown.’ I wanna go to NXT.” He continued: “That's the audience that know what I'm all about. They're the ones that are the hardcore fans. They're watching independent wrestling. They know who Drew Galloway is, Drew McIntyre is these days.” For McIntyre, returning through NXT was not about taking an easier route back to WWE. It was about proving that he deserved another opportunity. “I can be a leader there. That's where I wanna start out. I wanna prove myself there.” McIntyre's comments are particularly interesting because, at the time, Raw and SmackDown were traditionally viewed as the top destinations for WWE talent. However, McIntyre had a different perspective after spending years away from the company. He had already experienced the main roster during his first WWE run. Rather than immediately returning to the same environment, he wanted to establish the new version of Drew McIntyre in NXT.

BY SACNILK

Drew McIntyre has reflected on one of the most difficult chapters of his WWE career: his release from the company in 2014. During his appearance on The Broken Skull Sessions with Stone Cold Steve Austin, McIntyre discussed the period leading up to his departure and acknowledged that there were deeper reasons behind his struggles than what fans saw on television. McIntyre had spent eight years with WWE before being released on June 12, 2014. At the time, he was part of 3MB alongside Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal. While McIntyre felt the group was accomplishing what it was intended to do, he admitted that he was frustrated because he believed he was capable of much more. “We were on everything. Every TV, every tour, everything you can imagine. 3MB were booked solid,” McIntyre explained. However, the Scottish star also recognized that his personal situation at the time prevented WWE from placing him in a major position. “I could not have been trusted at that time, at that level,” McIntyre admitted. The realization is particularly significant given what happened later in his career. McIntyre eventually rebuilt himself outside WWE, returned to the company in 2017 and went on to become one of WWE's top stars and a multiple-time world champion. His journey from being released to eventually becoming WWE Champion has become one of the defining comeback stories of his career. McIntyre's return also marked the beginning of a completely different chapter. When he came back, there was no lengthy conversation with Vince McMahon beforehand explaining exactly what was expected of him. Instead, McIntyre simply walked out and immediately began rebuilding his reputation. Today, McIntyre's career looks dramatically different from the one that ended in 2014. The former “Chosen One” eventually fulfilled the world championship potential Vince McMahon had identified years earlier.