Although Drew McIntyre is still dealing with a neck injury, the former WWE Champion made his in-ring return this past Saturday night at the Royal Rumble by being a surprise entrant in the men’s match.
As previously reported, McIntyre was supposed to do more with Brock Lesnar in the Men’s Royal Rumble match, but since WWE was running low on time, they had to cut out what they had planned.
McIntyre has been dealing with a bad neck for several months but was working through it. McIntyre was hopeful that he would be able to return for WrestleMania 38 after being written off television via an attack angle at Day 1 also featuring Baron Corbin and Madcap Moss.
Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that McIntyre made the call to make his return at the show and his appearance was kept a secret as he was hidden from people backstage with the idea of doing the John Cena-like surprise. This is where someone returns from injury much sooner than expected.
McIntyre is still doing intense rehab on his neck and the idea is for him to remain on TV while feuding with Corbin and Moss while not working house shows. The hope is by limiting his schedule and continuing to do rehab, he will heal up at the same rate that he would be staying off TV.
