“This is not where he deserves to be”- Drew McIntyre set to face longtime rival in grudge match at WrestleMania 41; wrestling fans react

Drew McIntyre to be involved in a big match against a former World Champion at WrestleMania after months of brewing tensions.

“This is not where he deserves to be”- Drew McIntyre set to face longtime rival in grudge match at WrestleMania 41; wrestling fans react

Drew McIntyre (via- WWE)

Drew McIntyre has been locked in a brutal feud with Damian Priest over the past month on SmackDown. The Scottish Warrior has blamed The Punisher for stealing his big moments throughout the year. As a result, the two have been going to war week after week, hell-bent on tearing each other apart. Now, WWE has announced that the two rivals will square off at WrestleMania.

In a video shared by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, he officially announced that Drew McIntyre and Priest will finally settle their score in a grudge match at The Show of Shows in Las Vegas. Many fans had already anticipated this match being added to the WrestleMania card. Though McIntyre and Priest have clashed several times before, this will mark the second time they go head-to-head at WrestleMania.

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Back in January, before the Royal Rumble, The Scottish Warrior took a brutal jab at The Punisher. In response, Priest eliminated McIntyre from the Rumble match—and he didn’t stop there. The former World Champion struck again by tossing McIntyre out of the Elimination Chamber as well. That lit a fire under the 39-year-old, who struck back by ambushing Priest the following week.

That said, things took a nasty turn a few weeks ago when Damian chokeslammed McIntyre onto a car windshield. The brutal attack left the former WWE Champion with an eye injury, forcing him to wear an eye patch for protection ever since. Now, with their high-profile WrestleMania match just around the corner, the two are set to come face-to-face this week on SmackDown.

WWE Universe reacts to Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest’s match announcement

The WWE Universe is not fully thrilled with the idea of Drew McIntyre facing Damian Priest at WrestleMania. Many believed The Scottish Warrior deserved to be featured in the main events after giving his best performance in 2024. However, there were also some people who were positive about this clash and expected a banger showdown.

Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest
Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest [via- WWE]

Fans praised Priest for having great wrestling skills that could be enough for McIntyre to carry out a banger story and later a match. From the wide spectrum of views, here are the top reactions of the fans on X:

Meanwhile, some fans have suggested that WWE should raise the stakes to make the match feel more meaningful. Many feel that, as it stands, there’s nothing on the line, which takes away from that classic WrestleMania vibe. Still, there’s plenty of excitement around the clash, with fans confident that the talent and charisma of both McIntyre and Priest will deliver a memorable showdown in Las Vegas.

Drew McIntyre is facing issues ahead of his match at WrestleMania

Drew McIntyre’s eye injury couldn’t have come at a worse time, with WrestleMania just around the corner. Fans are expecting to see The Scottish Warrior on the grand stage, but in the midst of all the hype and preparation, the former WWE Champion has dropped a major bombshell about his health ahead of his match against Damian Priest.

Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre [via- Cageside Seats]

Speaking on It’s Called Soccer, McIntyre revealed that he’s in a race against time to be cleared for WrestleMania. While he’s not officially cleared to compete just yet, he’s hopeful he’ll be good to go by the time the big night arrives.

Part of the glass, where I landed on the windshield, bounced up and landed directly in my eyeball. I’m currently sporting the patch, hoping I can figure this thing out and get myself on WrestleMania. It’s a fight against time right now.

Drew McIntyre via It’s Called Soccer
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The Scottish Warrior explained that although the impact didn’t seem too bad when he landed on the windshield, a small piece of glass ended up damaging his eye. McIntyre said it was not supposed to happen, but he is figuring out how he can get past this injury.

Related: Former WWE star suggests Goldberg as 14-time World Champion’s opponent at WrestleMania 41 after recent turmoil on SmackDown