WWE announces storyline update on Drew McIntyre
WWE announced a new storyline injury update on WWE Champion Drew McIntyre prior to the start of tonight’s Payback main card:
Ahead of WWE Payback, WWE Digital has learned Drew McIntyre sustained a hairline jaw fracture as a result of the three kicks to the skull from Randy Orton on Monday Night Raw.
An angle on last Monday’s Raw saw Orton lay out McIntyre with two punt kicks after attacking him at the end of the opening segment. Later in the show, McIntyre returned and interrupted Orton’s match against Keith Lee. Orton bailed from the attack, but he later blindsided McIntyre during a backstage interview and hit another punt.
McIntyre was taken out by ambulance and WWE initially claimed that — in storyline — medical staff feared McIntyre suffered “a skull fracture and potential brain bleeding” that could be career ending. Lee was interviewed on Raw and said he wasn’t happy with McIntyre interfering in his match, but watching his friend get loaded into an ambulance changes things. Lee said McIntyre is one of the toughest people he’s ever met and is going to be okay. Lee then issued a warning to Orton, setting up a match between them for Payback tonight.
McIntyre retained his WWE Championship against Orton with a backslide at SummerSlam. WWE’s next PPV after tonight will be Clash of Champions on Sunday, September 27.
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.