Drew McIntyre Unleashes on Cody Rhodes Ahead of Wrestlepalooza: “This Isn’t What I Deserve — It’s What I’ve Earned”
On the eve of WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025, Drew McIntyre sat down for an exclusive interview on WWE’s official YouTube channel. The Scottish Warrior, set to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, didn’t hold back in dissecting his rivalry with Rhodes — and his place in the company’s history.
On His Infamous Attack at the Announce Desk
McIntyre was quick to revisit the viral moment earlier this year when he Claymore-kicked Rhodes through the announce table:
“Match was over. He attacked me, put my face in the post, cleared an announce table not to fashion me a fine cuisine to put me through it, and I retaliated. That specific example was self-defense. So everybody stop asking me about it.”
For McIntyre, the incident wasn’t an unprovoked attack, but a matter of survival — a narrative he wants firmly established heading into Wrestlepalooza.
Pandemic Champion vs. Rhodes’ Fairy-Tale Moment
When asked about the parallels between his career and Rhodes’, McIntyre’s tone sharpened. He pointed to a key difference: his championship reign came during the empty-arena pandemic era, while Rhodes lifted gold in front of 70,000 at WrestleMania.
“When the world shut down, when the world needed a hero to step up, it was my face every week, leading the charge. People have moved on so quickly. I was there when they needed me, and when I needed them, they weren’t there. … I’ve wasted 20 years of my life. I sacrificed my family to be that guy for everybody, and they moved right on.”
The bitterness was palpable. McIntyre framed his Wrestlepalooza title shot as a fight not just for the belt, but for validation of his sacrifices.
“There’s Nothing About Cody Rhodes I’d Ever Be Jealous Of”
Many critics have labeled McIntyre’s crusade against Rhodes as jealousy. Drew rejected that idea outright:
“The eyes are the windows to the soul. Look into my eyes right now when I tell you there is not one single thing about Cody Rhodes that Drew McIntyre would ever, ever, ever be jealous about.”
It was one of the most intense moments of the interview — McIntyre demanding to be seen as a man on a mission, not a bitter rival consumed by envy.
On Cody’s Alleged Manipulation
McIntyre doubled down on past comments calling Rhodes a “liar” and a “manipulator”:
“He’ll admit he lies all the time. He’s got liabetes, he can’t help himself. … Cody Rhodes doesn’t care about anything else except that WWE Championship and himself. The big difference between us? He learned to kiss arse just as good as Cena.”
McIntyre contrasted that with his own blunt honesty:
“Yes, I want the title, but I’m honest about it. I’m not a carefully crafted character. Cody knows I’m the biggest threat in this company. He’s had opportunity after opportunity, me? Screwed, screwed, screwed. I just want a real damn chance.”
Wrestlepalooza and ESPN’s Spotlight
With WWE’s first-ever Premium Live Event on the ESPN Unlimited app looming, McIntyre made it clear what victory would mean:
“Vindication.”
For McIntyre, Wrestlepalooza isn’t just another title shot. It’s the culmination of years of sacrifice and missed opportunities — a chance to finally prove, on the biggest stage yet, that he belongs at the very top.
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Drew McIntyre’s promo here wasn’t just fiery — it was deeply personal. His resentment over being the “pandemic champion” continues to fuel his storyline, and it gives this Wrestlepalooza clash with Cody Rhodes emotional weight beyond the gold. The “liabetes” line might draw laughs, but his larger point hits: Rhodes has become the face of WWE, while McIntyre still sees himself as the overlooked workhorse. Tomorrow could be his redemption — or another reminder that WWE doesn’t always reward sacrifice the way it should.
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