Drew McIntyre continued his pursuit of Damian Priest on SmackDown in Barcelona, Spain. The ongoing feud between the two former World Champions intensified after Priest eliminated McIntyre from this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match and later prevented him from earning a WrestleMania opportunity in the Elimination Chamber.

The episode, which will air on tape delay in the United States, featured Damian Priest competing against Shinsuke Nakamura in a singles match. Priest originally wanted to face McIntyre following a pre-taped segment where The Scottish Warrior called him out.

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis informed Priest that McIntyre had left the building earlier. Nakamura stepped up to challenge Priest, who accepted the match after his intended opponent was reportedly unavailable.

The match between Priest and Nakamura progressed well until McIntyre made a surprising appearance. Despite Aldis stating he had departed the venue, McIntyre had actually remained in the building and attempted to cost Priest his match.

Priest managed to counter Nakamura’s Kinshasa attempt with the South of Heaven, but McIntyre immediately jumped him. During the ensuing brawl between McIntyre and Priest, Nakamura delivered a Kinshasa to Priest.

Nakamura then stared down McIntyre before leaving the ring, allowing The Scottish Warrior to continue his attack on Priest. This interaction suggested a potential alliance between McIntyre and Nakamura could be forming.

Reports have circulated that Nakamura’s time with WWE might be ending, though wrestling journalist Bill Apter has cast doubt on these claims. If Nakamura is departing, this match could be one of his final appearances for the company.

However, if Nakamura remains with WWE, the interaction with McIntyre potentially indicates the beginning of a partnership between the two against their common adversary, Damian Priest.

Drew McIntyre had a lot he needed to take out on Priest.#WWE #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/mjBk9dChig— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) March 14, 2025

Drew McIntyre shared a photo with Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal during WWE’s recent visit to Spain. The company presented SmackDown live from Barcelona, where the meeting took place.

McIntyre posted the image on Instagram with a caption highlighting their connection:

Chosen One 🤝 Chosen One.

The reference connects to McIntyre’s WWE introduction in 2007, when then-CEO Vince McMahon presented him as “the chosen one.” McMahon believed McIntyre represented the future of the company and provided him with numerous opportunities to showcase his talents.

Yamal currently plays as a winger for Barcelona and the Spanish national football team. The 17-year-old footballer developed through Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, and has established himself as one of the best wingers in football.

Yamal made significant contributions to Spain’s national team, playing a crucial role in their Euro 2024 title-winning campaign.

On the wrestling side, McIntyre continues his ongoing feud with Damian Priest on SmackDown. Their rivalry spans nearly a year, beginning at WrestleMania XL when Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on McIntyre to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Priest further intensified the conflict by defeating McIntyre at Clash at the Castle: Scotland, preventing him from recapturing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. More recently, Priest eliminated McIntyre from the 2025 Men’s Elimination Chamber Match, ending his chance to become the number one contender for the WWE Championship.

The next development in their rivalry remains to be seen as WrestleMania 41 approaches.

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Uma publicação compartilhada por Drew McIntyre (@dmcintyrewwe)

Drew McIntyre’s path following WrestleMania 41 remains uncertain as WWE considers potential storyline directions for the Scottish superstar. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer, the company originally planned for McIntyre to feud with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes after the premium live event.

This planned rivalry could face significant changes depending on WrestleMania’s championship outcome. Meltzer reports that if John Cena defeats Rhodes for the title, WWE would likely move away from the McIntyre-Rhodes program.

“If Cena wins the Undisputed WWE Title, the McIntyre vs. Rhodes rivalry is unlikely to materialize,” Meltzer noted in his report, creating uncertainty for McIntyre’s post-WrestleMania direction.

McIntyre’s recent journey has included both triumph and disappointment. At WrestleMania 40, he defeated Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship but lost the title minutes later when Damian Priest successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.

His intense rivalry with CM Punk culminated in a Hell in a Cell match at WWE Bad Blood. Since then, McIntyre has struggled to regain momentum, falling short in both the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches in 2025.

His only premium live event singles victory in recent months came against Sami Zayn. Currently, McIntyre appears to be heading toward a match with Damian Priest at WrestleMania 41.

WrestleMania 41 will take place on April 19-20 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. WWE has not officially announced changes to creative plans involving McIntyre following the event.