Who should face Drew McIntyre at WWE Clash in Italy? | Opinion
On the road to next weekend’s WWE Clash in Italy PLE, Drew McIntyre is advertised for both tonight’s and next week’s WWE SmackDown.
It will be his first televised appearance since his unsanctioned WrestleMania 42 match loss to Jacob Fatu after which have been tumultuous changes in storyline dynamics and rising talents in his absence.
So what’s next for the former champion? Here’s a few ideas for his direction ahead of next weekend’s big event in Turin.
Ilja Dragunov
Dragunov’s pursuit of the United States title seems to be on hold after Trick Williams’ win at WrestleMania, and Sami Zayn still holding on to hope for another rematch.
While that develops, Dragunov could pick a feud with McIntyre. Going up against an established name like McIntyre could offer him a fresh rivalry outside of the championship scene. McIntyre’s frustration following the loss to Fatu could create a natural conflict for Dragunov’s relentlessness.
Even if the rivalry does not have long-term storytelling, one match is enough to appeal to fans. Both men are known for their intense matches making their rivalry a perfect fit for a PLE like Clash in Italy.
Trick Williams
With Williams becoming a breakout star on the main roster in McIntyre’s absence, a rivalry between the two is going to come at some point.
Within six months of his SmackDown debut, Williams not only became a fan favorite, but he competed in his first WrestleMania match and won the United States title as referenced above. That in itself could irk McIntyre to call him out, being unsupportive of his rise to stardom in his time away.
It would create the classic veteran vs. rising star dynamic, enabling Williams to gain further credibility by facing and possibly defending the title against McIntyre.
Additionally, McIntyre’s persona, along with Williams’ charisma and confidence amid conflicting fan support, could create some fun tension for a rivalry.
Ricky Saints
Saints competed in his SmackDown debut against undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Despite their history dating back to their AEW tenure, Saints’ in-ring capability captured the WWE audience’s attention.
Saints already has the self-assured, verbally sharp and main character energy persona. Meanwhile, McIntyre is brutal, hardened and emotionally driven. He could call out Saints for embodying what WWE values like his charisma. This would provoke a retaliation from Saints, concluding in a verbal confrontation that could lead to a match next weekend.
Matt Cardona
A similarity between Cardona and McIntyre is that both men reinvented themselves following their WWE exits in early years of their careers.
McIntyre rebuilt himself and become World Champion worthy while Cardona transitioned from a comedy centric undercard talent to self-made independent wrestler. This would lay the foundation for a philosophical clash.
Ever since his return, Cardona has not been featured in a dominant rivalry. He attempted to influence Randy Orton’s decisions during his Rhodes feud for WrestleMania but that did not end well.
He has lacked a defining feud and storyline upon his return, and a match with McIntyre could reverse the situation, providing Cardona with the platform to showcase that his accomplishments outside of WWE were validated and relevant.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.