Drew McIntyre has set his sights on a future clash with Brock Lesnar, but only after he reclaims a world championship. In a recent interview with Adam’s Apple, McIntyre acknowledged the highly anticipated match between Lesnar and John Cena but laid out a direct challenge for The Beast Incarnate, welcoming a title defense against him down the line.
“I welcome the Beast when I’m champion, if he wants to challenge me for the title,” McIntyre stated.
The challenge is rooted in their history, as McIntyre believes Lesnar is looking to avenge a significant loss from WrestleMania. “I know he wants to get even with Drew McIntyre since I beat him for my first world title at WrestleMania,” he explained. While looking ahead, McIntyre also commented on Lesnar’s immediate future, noting, “I know him and Cena, when it happens, it’s going to be a big one.”
McIntyre’s challenge comes just weeks after Lesnar made a shocking return to the company at SummerSlam on August 2. The appearance was Lesnar’s first in nearly two years, as he confronted John Cena following the main event where Cena lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes. Lesnar closed the show by delivering an F-5 to his old rival.
Lesnar’s extended hiatus began after he was implicated in the Janel Grant lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon in early 2024. Although not a defendant, the suit alleged McMahon offered Grant to Lesnar as part of a contract re-signing in 2021. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE’s legal department cleared Lesnar for a return roughly four weeks prior to SummerSlam.
The immediate creative direction for Lesnar is a program with John Cena, who is currently on a farewell tour. During a media session after SummerSlam, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque heavily implied that a match with Lesnar was a specific request from Cena for the final chapter of his in-ring career. WWE went to great lengths to keep the return a secret, with many staff and producers reportedly unaware of the plan until moments before he appeared.