Drew McIntyre has made it clear that Roman Reigns is high on his list of potential opponents when he returns to WWE television.
McIntyre has been away from WWE programming since WrestleMania 42 while pursuing acting projects, and he has not put a date on his comeback. Still, the former WWE Champion has repeatedly indicated that his absence is temporary. As talk turns toward what a McIntyre return could look like, he has identified both CM Punk and Reigns as wrestlers he would be more than happy to confront.
The Reigns issue carries a particularly notable personal goal for McIntyre. He said that he has never defeated Reigns, leaving the prospect of finally beating him as a major objective for whenever their paths cross again.
“I’ll slap them around once I get back,” McIntyre said when asked about revisiting rivalries with Punk and Reigns.
For more background on this topic, read John Cena Keeps Pushing for WrestleMania to Come to London.
McIntyre took a playful shot at Punk while discussing the possibility of their paths crossing again. He suggested Punk might want to point out his own accomplishments away from WWE, only for McIntyre to respond that he would have to look hard to find them. The Scottish star then shifted to Reigns, acknowledging that Reigns currently has a significant project of his own with Street Fighter.
Rather than downplaying Reigns’ work, McIntyre said he believes he can surpass it in the acting space. More importantly, he immediately connected that competitive edge to the match he still wants inside a WWE ring.
“Roman’s got the Street Fighter out right now so he’s doing some big things,” McIntyre said. “But I think I’ll eclipse him in that area. Then I gotta beat Roman because I’ve never beat him.”
An Unfinished Goal Against Reigns
McIntyre’s comments frame a future Reigns match as more than a casual dream pairing. In an era when WWE has frequently built major programs around long-running histories, an opponent a top-level star has never beaten is an easy story to understand. McIntyre is not merely saying he wants a marquee bout; he is saying there is a specific result he still needs.
That kind of motivation gives a potential return program immediate direction. McIntyre can return with any number of targets, especially after time away from television, but his remarks establish Reigns as someone he sees as unfinished business. Whether that leads to a direct rivalry, a single major premium live event match, or a confrontation that develops over time remains unknown. McIntyre did not offer a timetable for either his return or a possible match with Reigns.
The fact that both men have outside entertainment projects also adds a different layer to his remarks. McIntyre did not present acting as something that has taken him away from wrestling permanently. Instead, he spoke about it with the same competitiveness that has long defined his WWE persona, positioning himself as someone who wants to succeed in that field while also returning to settle matters in the ring.
For McIntyre, the desire to beat Reigns appears to sit alongside the ambition to make his WWE return feel substantial. He has said elsewhere in the same discussion that his comeback will be a big deal for both the audience and for himself. That expectation makes sense given the length of his absence since WrestleMania 42 and the attention that naturally follows a major name returning after pursuing work outside the company.
The Sword Joke Returns
McIntyre also raised the possibility of bringing back one of the most recognizable elements of an earlier chapter of his WWE presentation: the sword.
His reasoning was tongue-in-cheek, but it was aimed squarely at the numbers game that can surround Reigns. McIntyre joked that Reigns has “95 family members,” suggesting that a sword might be necessary if he has to deal with everyone connected to Reigns.
“I’ve got these swords here so if it comes to—because Roman’s got 95 family members, I may have to bring the sword back,” McIntyre said.
The line was delivered humorously, but it also underlines an obvious challenge attached to any conflict involving Reigns: McIntyre expects that it may not be a simple one-on-one situation. In WWE, the possibility of allies, relatives, or associates affecting a rivalry can alter the stakes around a match. McIntyre’s joke plays on that expectation while giving fans a memorable visual to attach to a possible Reigns showdown.
He also reflected on the unusual reality that, despite carrying the sword as part of his WWE character for years, he never actually used it in the company. McIntyre credited WWE’s PG environment for that restraint in a joking fashion, then contrasted it with his work on Agent of Shadows.
“I can’t say I had the sword in WWE for years, I never used it. Shockingly so, PG product,” McIntyre said. “But Agent of Shadows, I’m telling you right now, I finally used the sword.”
There is no indication that the sword is definitively returning to WWE with McIntyre. His comments were presented as a joke connected to the idea of having to deal with Reigns’ extended circle. Yet it is the kind of remark that will inevitably prompt speculation, particularly because a returning McIntyre will likely be looking for a presentation that immediately reminds viewers of his presence and personality.
CM Punk Also Remains on McIntyre’s Radar
Although Reigns was the central focus of McIntyre’s comments, Punk was also included among the names he expects to encounter upon his return. McIntyre did not lay out a detailed plan for a renewed issue with Punk, nor did he reveal any information about WWE’s creative direction. His stance was simply that he would be ready to resume hostilities with both men.
That leaves WWE with multiple obvious options whenever McIntyre is back on programming. A returning star does not need to announce every intended opponent to generate interest, but McIntyre has made his priorities clear enough. Punk represents one established point of conflict, while Reigns represents a challenge with an explicit piece of unfinished business attached to it.
McIntyre’s choice to mention both names also reinforces the confidence behind his return message. He is not talking about easing back into the roster or waiting quietly for an opening. He is speaking as someone who expects to immediately pursue high-profile names and high-stakes situations.
No Return Date Announced
For now, the key unknown is timing. McIntyre has assured fans that he will return to WWE, but he has not provided specifics on when that will happen. His acting work remains the reason for his time away from WWE programming following WrestleMania 42, and nothing in his comments established when those commitments will allow him to resume a full WWE schedule.
That uncertainty does not diminish the clarity of his stated goals. McIntyre wants major confrontations waiting for him when he comes back. He wants to deal with Punk. And above all, he wants the chance to finally defeat Reigns.
Whether the sword makes the trip back with him is another matter entirely. McIntyre may have been joking about needing it to fend off Reigns’ many relatives, but the larger message was serious: he sees Reigns as a major test still standing in front of him. Whenever WWE brings McIntyre back, that unresolved pursuit of a first victory over Reigns will be one of the most compelling directions available to him.
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.