WWE "didn't really try" with Drew McIntyre before firing him, veteran says (Exclusive)
Drew McIntyre was a member of the 3MB faction in WWE with Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal between 2012 and 2014. Legendary booker and manager Dutch Mantell recently recalled how the company did not seem to care about McIntyre during that time.
Mantell performed as the Zeb Colter character in WWE between 2013 and 2016. Jack Swagger's former manager featured prominently on television when McIntyre surprisingly received his release in 2014.
On Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk show with Rick Ucchino, Mantell said WWE's higher-ups probably wanted to make it look like they were giving McIntyre opportunities. In reality, he thinks everyone knew the 3MB comedy group would fail:
"Sometimes they'd do things like that so they could tell the talent, 'We tried,' but they didn't really try," Mantell stated. "They put them out there under the pretense of trying but they didn't do the right stuff with them. They didn't really do anything that made sense if you ask me, but anyway, I'm glad he's getting his due justice now because he's a great performer, a great worker." [13:47 – 14:18]
Watch the video above to hear Mantell predict Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa at Bad Blood.
Dutch Mantell praises WWE's new regime
Drew McIntyre had already established himself as a main-event singles star after returning to WWE in 2017. Since Triple H replaced Vince McMahon as the company's creative figurehead in 2022, The Scottish Warrior has continued to appear regularly on television.
Dutch Mantell thinks weekly shows have improved thanks to Triple H's ability to build important characters:
"The way WWE has it all set up now, it could actually run on its own for a month without changing anything and doing any big angles. You would have that layover, lapover for at least a month and then if they really wanted to do something, they'd just re-crank it up and go again. Because that's the beauty of wrestling. I've said this before, the fans don't forget. They will remember." [14:43 – 15:18]
Bad Blood will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 5. McIntyre will face CM Punk in a Hell in a Cell Match at the event.
Do you have any favorite memories of Drew McIntyre in 3MB? Hit the Discuss button and let us know.
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