WWE NXT: 5 Superstars on the Rise

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4. Drew McIntyre

It came as a surprise when McIntyre appeared in the crowd at NXT TakeOver: Orlando. He had been away from WWE for nearly three years after being released in 2014. It ended a spiraling run, which saw the Scotsman be part of the lowly 3MB stable with Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal.

Now, McIntyre looks more motivated than ever, something that translates from his work seen in TNA, EVOLVE and various United Kingdom promotions. Everything comes off crisper, including in his match with Oney Lorcan on April 12:

McIntyre keeps stating he wants the NXT Championship. However, that will have to wait until after NXT TakeOver: Chicago with Itami and Strong already receiving the opportunity to go for Bobby Roode’s title. How soon after will this be, though?

The next known TakeOver event is in August during SummerSlam weekend. It’s preceding the WWE’s second biggest show of the year for a third consecutive time and tends to be one of the most hyped TakeOvers of the year, stemming back to Brooklyn, NY hosting the first of these shows outside Full Sail University. Big title wins have already happened at these shows for Shinsuke Nakamura and Bayley, so is McIntyre slated to join them in three-plus months?

It seems guaranteed McIntyre joins the NXT Championship picture. If anything, his opponent may await him at the end of TakeOver.