Drew McIntyre was reportedly in line for a feud with WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns with the idea that they would work a match at the Royal Rumble. WWE had been advertising tag team matches featuring the two stars against each other at house shows in January and February.
However, a neck injury sidelined McIntyre before that could happen as he was written off TV at Day 1. Thus, plans for the Royal Rumble had to be changed.
McIntyre 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 made the call to come back early. WWE went with Reigns defending the title against Raw’s Seth Rollins at the Royal Rumble.
Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that McIntyre and Reigns are still planned for an eventual program. He noted it won’t be happening in the immediate future, but the two stars will cross paths again.
Meltzer wrote, “Drew McIntyre is very much in the plans for an opponent for Reigns at some point. Before his injury, there was talk of Reigns vs. McIntyre as Reigns’ program in the early part of the year in getting to [Brock] Lesnar. And now that he’s back, perhaps that’s in Saudi Arabia, although it would be better served for later in the year.”
On Friday’s episode of SmackDown, WWE confirmed that Reigns will make his next Universal Title defense against Goldberg while McIntyre will wrestle Madcap Moss at the Elimination Chamber event in Saudi Arabia.
