WWE Champion Drew McIntyre names Tokyo Dome as goal
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre would love to compete at the Tokyo Dome one day.
While speaking with ABEMA ahead of the Royal Rumble, McIntyre expressed how much he respects Japanese fans and promised them that he’ll be back in the country. Because he’s never wrestled at the Tokyo Dome before, that is something McIntyre would like to do.
“Japan, I’m coming back. Roppongi [an entertainment district in Tokyo], wait for me,” he said. “I’ve never had a big match at the Tokyo Dome, so I want to compete there.”
McIntyre hasn’t wrestled in Japan since a 2019 WWE house show tour. WWE visited Japan for live events in both 2025 and 2024 but has not held a televised main roster show there since 2015’s Beast in the East special at Sumo Hall.
At the Royal Rumble this Saturday, McIntyre is putting his WWE Championship on the line against Sami Zayn. It’s the first televised defense for McIntyre since he won the belt from Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match on the January 9 episode of SmackDown.
McIntyre told ABEMA that he’ll “crush” Rhodes if they face off again at WrestleMania 42.
“If you want to face me at WrestleMania, win the Rumble,” McIntyre said. “Doesn’t matter who wins. Roman [Reigns], Brock [Lesnar], or a surprise entrant. Even Cody, I’ll crush him at WrestleMania.”
Royal Rumble 2026 is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia tomorrow and will stream live on the ESPN app in the United States, ABEMA in Japan, and Netflix elsewhere.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.