Drew McIntyre has spent enough time around major entertainment names that celebrity encounters do not appear to overwhelm him, but he still has a few stories that stand out. The WWE star recently recalled separate meetings with Robert Downey Jr. and Sam Jones, the actor best known for playing Flash Gordon, describing one as an awkward missed opportunity and the other as a surreal fan moment that also meant a great deal to his brother.
McIntyre has increasingly built connections beyond professional wrestling in recent years as he continues to pursue acting opportunities. He has worked alongside established performers including Russell Crowe, and his experience in that environment has seemingly shaped how he approaches famous people when he meets them in everyday settings.
Rather than treating every celebrity interaction as a chance to seek attention, McIntyre explained that he understands the desire for privacy. As a prominent WWE performer himself, he knows that public figures can be approached constantly and may not always want to answer questions or engage in lengthy conversations. That perspective played a major role in how he handled an unexpected encounter with Downey Jr.
A Brief Meeting With Robert Downey Jr.
McIntyre remembered being at a restaurant in Los Angeles when he turned around while heading to his car and found Downey Jr. nearby. The moment caught him off guard, particularly because McIntyre is a fan of the actor’s work. He offered a quick compliment, saying, “Oh, hey, man, I’m a fan of your work,” before attempting to give Downey Jr. space.
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The WWE star said he began walking away because he did not want to be overly intrusive. However, he quickly realized that Downey Jr. appeared willing to continue speaking with him. By that point, McIntyre felt he had already committed to leaving the interaction, creating an amusingly uncomfortable pause while both men waited for their vehicles.
“I realized as I turned away, he wanted to keep talking, but I committed to turning, so I kept turning,” McIntyre said. “I was like, ‘Ah, damn it, he wanted to keep talking,’ and now I’ve turned, and we’re both awkwardly waiting for our cars.”
It is a relatable story from a performer who is usually known for carrying himself with confidence in high-pressure environments. McIntyre has competed in front of enormous WWE audiences, delivered title-match promos, and stood across the ring from many of wrestling’s biggest personalities. Yet an unplanned exchange in a restaurant parking area can still create the kind of hesitation that anyone might feel around a respected actor.
McIntyre said he wishes he had allowed the conversation with Downey Jr. to continue. His regret was not presented as a complaint about the interaction, but as recognition that Downey Jr. had seemingly been open to talking and that McIntyre had underestimated the situation while trying to be considerate.
“I kind of wish I continued that conversation, because I am a fan, but I also know what it’s like when people are up on you and asking too many questions,” McIntyre said.
The account also illustrates the unusual overlap between wrestling and Hollywood. WWE stars routinely appear in films, television projects, commercials, media events, and red-carpet settings, while actors and other entertainment figures have long attended WWE shows or participated in wrestling-related projects. McIntyre’s story was not about a planned professional meeting, however. It was simply a chance encounter that became memorable because of his own decision to step back.
Sam Jones Creates a Flash Gordon Moment
McIntyre’s encounter with Sam Jones had a very different energy. He recalled attending a signing in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Jones was also appearing. Jones played the title role in the 1980 film Flash Gordon, a performance that has remained a popular piece of cult-film history for decades.
For McIntyre, the meeting had a personal connection beyond his own appreciation for the movie. He said his brother is especially devoted to Flash Gordon, while McIntyre is also a fan. As he was leaving the signing, he was thinking about the opportunity to potentially get something signed for his brother.
Then Jones made sure the WWE star did not leave without speaking to him. McIntyre recalled hearing his name called in a large, booming voice: “DREW!” When he turned around, he immediately knew Jones was behind the call. The moment struck him as especially funny and cinematic because of the larger-than-life association Jones has with the character.
McIntyre compared the scene in his mind to a moment from the comedy film Ted, which famously references Jones and Flash Gordon. He said he approached Jones and delivered the line associated with that sequence: “Thanks for saving every one of us.”
“It was like a scene from the movie Ted, I just heard the Flash Gordon theme,” McIntyre said. “He was motioning me over and I went over and I did exactly say the Ted line with the teddy bear movie where he says, ‘Thanks for saving every one of us.’”
Jones then signed a photo for McIntyre’s brother. McIntyre described the actor as lovely, and the signed item has become a proud display piece for his brother.
“He was lovely, signed a picture for my brother, which my brother proudly has on his wall,” McIntyre said.
Unlike the Downey Jr. encounter, which ended with McIntyre wondering whether he should have stayed in the conversation, the Jones story gave him a complete fan experience. He got to meet an actor connected to a movie he enjoys, shared a joke built around the character’s enduring legacy, and returned home with a gift that mattered to a family member.
McIntyre’s Expanding Entertainment Profile
These stories arrive as McIntyre continues to balance his place in WWE with a growing presence in acting. The former WWE Champion has become one of the company’s most recognizable international stars, combining his imposing physical presence with a sharper, more character-driven speaking style than he showed earlier in his career.
That evolution has helped make McIntyre a natural fit for projects beyond the ring. Actors with an understanding of physical performance, timing, character work, and live audience reaction often find some crossover with wrestling, even though film and television demand their own skills and working rhythms. McIntyre’s comments suggest that he is approaching that world with an eagerness to learn from people who have spent years in it rather than assuming that success in WWE automatically provides all the answers.
He made clear that he does not necessarily become starstruck by every well-known name. Instead, McIntyre is particularly interested in conversations where he can learn something, while also retaining a deep appreciation for certain cult figures and the entertainment that shaped him and his family.
That distinction explains why the Sam Jones moment resonated so strongly. Jones is tied to a character and film that have maintained a devoted following, and the encounter gave McIntyre a chance to bring that fandom into a personal setting with his brother. Downey Jr., meanwhile, is one of the most recognizable actors of his generation, and McIntyre’s brief interaction became memorable precisely because it ended before either man had the chance to say much more.
Respect for Privacy Shapes the Stories
Both memories ultimately reveal the same side of McIntyre: he remains conscious of how it feels to be recognized in public. WWE performers are frequently approached by fans at airports, restaurants, hotels, conventions, and other public places. McIntyre’s decision to avoid pressing Downey Jr. for conversation came from that understanding, even if he later felt he may have misread the actor’s willingness to chat.
His experience with Jones showed the other side of celebrity interaction. When an entertainer actively welcomes the conversation, the exchange can become a warm and lasting memory. McIntyre was able to enjoy the humor of the moment, celebrate a cult classic, and give his brother a keepsake that remains important to him.
For WWE fans, the anecdotes offer a glimpse of McIntyre away from championship pursuits, rivalries, and the intensity of weekly television. In the ring, he is often presented as a relentless, driven competitor with a powerful presence. Outside it, he can still find himself awkwardly turning away from Robert Downey Jr. or enthusiastically quoting Ted to Flash Gordon himself.
Those contrasts are part of what makes the stories effective. McIntyre may be a global WWE star and an increasingly familiar figure in acting circles, but he remains a fan of entertainment, aware of boundaries and appreciative of the rare moments when an unexpected meeting turns into something worth remembering.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.