Drew McIntyre’s eventual return to WWE could bring an unexpected Hollywood connection into the company’s ongoing main-event picture.
The Scottish Warrior has revealed that Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe has expressed genuine interest in appearing alongside him in WWE. McIntyre and Crowe have worked together on The Last Druid and Highlander, and their conversations have apparently extended beyond their film collaborations. Crowe has discussed the possibility of joining McIntyre in a wrestling-related role, including ideas involving a tag-team style alliance, a heel dynamic and even WrestleMania.
Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, McIntyre said Crowe was enthusiastic when the subject of a WWE appearance came up. The former World Heavyweight Champion stressed that the idea would still need to be discussed with WWE management, but made clear that Crowe has not treated the possibility as a throwaway suggestion.
“Russell was legitimately talking about... he wanted to do something a couple of times,” McIntyre said. “Oh, he got all excited about us doing something together in the same team, and talked about WrestleMania, or whatever. He talked about us having a manager, like an assistant, kind of like you. It was more of a heel thing he was coming up with. He had some great ideas. He’s willing to do it.”
For more background on this topic, read Jerry Lynn Recalls Jim Cornette’s Unmade Plan to Put Him in WWE’s Brood.
The prospect is notable not only because of Crowe’s standing as an internationally recognized actor, but because McIntyre’s proposed direction appears to be rooted in character work rather than a simple celebrity cameo. McIntyre described Crowe’s thoughts as leaning heel, suggesting the actor was contemplating a role that could actively affect stories instead of being limited to a one-night appearance or ringside acknowledgment.
A manager, assistant or on-screen adviser would be a natural fit for that approach. Crowe’s screen presence and history of playing forceful, authoritative characters could translate into a WWE role built around amplifying McIntyre’s already imposing presentation. The actor would not necessarily need to wrestle for such an arrangement to make an impact. A speaking role at ringside, involvement in major promos or interference during key matches could provide McIntyre with an additional layer once he is back in the ring.
McIntyre Has Been Away From WWE Competition Since WrestleMania 42
McIntyre has not wrestled in WWE for nearly 200 days. His last match came at WrestleMania 42, where he lost to Jacob Fatu in an Unsanctioned Match. The stipulation reflected just how personal the rivalry had become, as Fatu and McIntyre had escalated far beyond a routine championship disagreement.
The conflict was tied directly to McIntyre’s most recent run with the Undisputed Championship. On the March 6 edition of WWE SmackDown, Fatu cost McIntyre the title, opening the door for Cody Rhodes to capture his third reign with the championship. That loss reshaped the WWE title landscape and gave McIntyre a major grievance heading into WrestleMania 42.
McIntyre’s subsequent defeat to Fatu left his WWE future open-ended. The loss did not simply end a high-profile feud; it also removed McIntyre from active competition during a period when he had been firmly connected to the company’s top championship scene. When he returns, his stated objective is to reposition himself as the next world champion.
That goal makes any potential Crowe involvement especially intriguing. McIntyre is not teasing a celebrity pairing in the middle of a detached side story. He is looking toward a return with world-title ambitions, and a prominent on-screen ally could become part of the strategy behind his climb back toward the top of WWE.
A Hollywood Partnership With A Clear Wrestling Angle
Celebrity appearances have long been part of WWE’s biggest events, particularly WrestleMania. However, McIntyre’s comments point to an idea that could be more sustained than a red-carpet-style guest spot. Crowe reportedly discussed working with McIntyre as a team and was willing to consider an assistant or manager-type role. That framework leaves WWE several ways to use the actor if the discussions ever become reality.
As a manager, Crowe could function as an extension of McIntyre’s worldview. McIntyre has often been at his most compelling when he believes he has been wronged, underestimated or denied opportunities that he earned. An adviser character could reinforce that argument, presenting McIntyre as a dangerous star who needs no validation from fans or rivals. The heel component McIntyre mentioned is important because it suggests a partnership designed to antagonize opponents and audiences, not merely celebrate McIntyre’s film work.
There is also obvious promotional value in the connection. McIntyre and Crowe share two film projects in The Last Druid and Highlander, making an on-screen WWE collaboration a continuation of an existing professional relationship. At the same time, McIntyre’s comments do not establish that an appearance has been finalized. He specifically noted that WWE management would need to be involved before anything could move forward.
For now, the idea remains a tease rather than an announced plan. There is no confirmed date for McIntyre’s WWE return, no confirmed event for a Crowe appearance and no indication that a WrestleMania angle has been formally arranged. Still, McIntyre’s description of Crowe as “willing” to participate gives the concept a level of credibility beyond the usual fantasy-booking discussion.
McIntyre Has Used His Time Away To Expand His Acting Work
While absent from WWE matches, McIntyre has taken on multiple acting opportunities. Alongside The Last Druid and Highlander, he has worked on Hexed. He is also the lead character, Roscoe, in WWE and ReelShort’s recently released micro-drama The Agent of Shadows.
The growing acting slate shows that McIntyre’s time away from the ring has not been inactive. Instead, he has continued building experience in a field that naturally overlaps with WWE’s emphasis on larger-than-life personalities, performance and storytelling. A future WWE program involving Crowe could be an opportunity to blend those worlds more directly than a conventional guest appearance.
McIntyre’s history also makes a return to an aggressive, championship-focused role easy to envision. He has been a world champion, has repeatedly competed at the highest level in WWE and has made no secret of wanting to reclaim that place. The end of his championship reign and the bitter conclusion to the Jacob Fatu rivalry offer ready-made motivation for a more calculating version of McIntyre.
Whether Crowe would become a manager, a temporary ally, an assistant or simply a special attraction remains unclear. McIntyre’s remarks indicate that several concepts were discussed, rather than one final creative direction. That uncertainty may ultimately be beneficial for WWE, since a figure with Crowe’s profile could be introduced in different ways depending on where McIntyre’s return fits into the championship picture.
World Championship Ambitions Remain The Focus
Despite the attention around a possible Hollywood partnership, the central point of McIntyre’s next WWE chapter is clear: he intends to pursue the world title. His absence began after a major WrestleMania defeat, but his previous Undisputed Championship reign means he already has a direct connection to the belt and unfinished business with the circumstances surrounding its loss.
If McIntyre returns to confront Cody Rhodes, Jacob Fatu or another top contender, the presence of Russell Crowe could immediately change the atmosphere around his comeback. A Hollywood ally with heel instincts could give McIntyre an unpredictable advantage at a time when he is trying to force his way back into the title conversation.
There are significant steps before that becomes a WWE reality, beginning with discussions involving management. But McIntyre has provided a compelling glimpse at what Crowe would be interested in doing: not just appearing, but contributing ideas and embracing a villainous role beside the Scottish Warrior. For a wrestler determined to become world champion again, that could be a very useful alliance.
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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.