A new report on Drew McIntyre’s contract with WWE reveals that AEW may be able to pluck him away from their top rival in the next few weeks.
Late last year, it was revealed that three-time WWE world champion Drew McIntyre had not signed a new contract with the company and could very well hit professional wrestling free agency not long after WrestleMania 40. However, in February a report then claimed a new deal was close to done and the promotion was plotting out future storylines with the assumption he would stay with the company.
Since the news broke that McIntyre’s WWE future was unsettled, he has gone on one of the best runs of his career as he has turned into a bad guy with a purpose and has garnered rave reviews from fans. Furthermore, his growing feud with CM Punk has been a highlight of the company’s content over the last month and is setting up a major feud once Punk is cleared to return to action.
However, that Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk match looks far from set now. According to PW Insider’s Mike Johnson McIntyre’s run with WWE is surprisingly still on track to end and he could be up for grabs to the highest bidder very soon.
Drew McIntyre reportedly could hit free agency in less than six weeks
“One source in the company stated that McIntyre’s current deal expires in the ‘5-6 week’ range, so there is obviously a pressure there to finally get a new deal done if the company wishes for McIntyre to remain locked in and not land on the open market,” Johnson wrote. “If the two sides don’t agree to a new deal (or an extension of the current one), that would mean McIntyre would be free to wrestle anywhere he wishes by late May/early June.”
McIntyre’s recent performances in the ring, on the microphone, and the praise it has gotten may have made him up his asking price, or he could be stalling so that he can test his value on the open market. With reports that AEW paid NJPW legend Kazuchika Okada a multi-year deal worth around $14 million, McIntyre may be looking for a deal in a similar price range with WWE or AEW.
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