WWE: What’s next for Drew McIntyre after Extreme Rules?

Drew McIntyre retained the WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler at Extreme Rules, but what’s next?

It’s been one hell of a year for Drew McIntyre, who started the first month of 2020 on absolute fire. His Royal Rumble victory was a sight to behold, as McIntyre Claymored a dominant Brock Lesnar straight over the top rope, en route to winning his first Rumble match. Months later, he defeated Lesnar for the WWE Title at WrestleMania 36.

Since then, McIntyre has been an excellent champion, fulfilling his destiny as the new top male star on Raw. It feels like McIntyre has lasting power on the top of Monday nights, but he needs the right feuds to keep fueling his reign.

At Extreme Rules, McIntyre defeated Dolph Ziggler in a WWE Title match with an intriguing stipulation that truly did stack the odds against McIntyre. It was an “Extreme Rules Match For One”, meaning Dolph could use the stipulation but if McIntyre did or got counted out, he would lose the title.

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With his back to the wall, McIntyre got up and hit a Claymore just before Ziggler could reach him with a superkick for an emphatic victory. That match was way better than it had any business being, but the truth is that WWE will have to come up with a more serious SummerSlam challenger for the Chosen One.

Since Brock Lesnar won’t be asked to wrestle at the Performance Center, there’s really only one option for McIntyre since he’s already beaten stalwarts Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley on Pay Per View.

That man is the contemptible Randy Orton.

The Viper still has to tie up a loose end with the Big Show on Raw in their Unsanctioned Match, but afterward, he’ll be free to feud with McIntyre in what should be both a SummerSlam dream match and Drew’s fiercest test as champion thus far.

Nothing against Rollins and Lashley, who are both formidable opponents, but with the way the Viper has been lately, he might be the most fearsome heel in WWE. Yes, even moreso than Universal Champion Braun Strowman’s “new” rival, The Fiend.

Orton vs. Edge will have to be pushed back due to Edge’s injury, so Orton vs. McIntyre looks like the SummerSlam match for the WWE Title. And fans will be hot for it, given that Orton is putting together some of his best work in his career on this heel run while McIntyre IS putting the best work of his career together as champion.

It’s a battle between two “in-form” superstars who can bring it in the ring and on the mic. McIntyre could conceivably face someone else, but at the Biggest Party of the Summer, it’s hard to think of a more suitable world title opponent than the Apex Predator.