A Drew McIntyre heel turn would make sense

Amidst some pretty uncertain times for WWE’s Raw brand, we’ll be taking a look at just why former two-time WWE Champion Drew McIntyre needs a heel turn and needs it badly.

McIntyre’s professional wrestling journey has definitely been full of ups and downs. From having the most promising future in the industry to almost complete obscurity, McIntyre has had to climb from what can be considered a very low point to achieve the success he has garnered for himself.

But it sure didn’t come easy.

A hand-picked talent

When I say “hand-picked”, I mean he was chosen by Vince McMahon himself to be the next face of the industry and his company. They didn’t call him “The Chosen One” for nothing.

McIntyre started his overall wrestling career in 2003. He wrestled in Europe predominantly in the early years, specifically for British Championship Wrestling (he was actually at the promotion’s first-ever show), Irish Whip Wrestling, and Insane Championship Wrestling, among others, before landing a contract with WWE in 2007.

He trained at OVW and later FCW, WWE’s well-known developmental territories at the time. But his first run with WWE wouldn’t go as well as was planned. Despite a very strong start, he would eventually be released from the company in 2014, seeing that his run was less than stellar.

But of course, that is pro wrestling lore by now, and perhaps it was his rise from that fall that is most important when looking back at this man’s career and story.

The phoenix rises from the ashes

He returned to the independent circuit and it was there where he would ultimately find the tools and gumption necessary to make his ultimate return, but it wouldn’t happen overnight. It took him working for Evolve, ICW once again, PWG, and TNA.

During this time, his character evolved; the beard grew out, and most importantly, the body changed. He went from a very thin frame to the massive beast we now see every time he walks out to the ring, carrying that sword, a Scottish family heirloom, and it was all via a lot of hard work and dedication to diet and exercise.

But perhaps the most important changes were the darker shades to his persona, and the reaction he evidently got from anyone watching.

“Say hello to the bad guy…”

Yes, that’s a line from Scarface starring Al Pacino, but also made famous in wrestling circles by the infamous Scott Hall, aka Razor Ramon.

But it would certainly apply to Drew.

He re-signed with WWE in 2017, but his on-screen return occurred over at the NXT brand. At first, it was a shock to most, seeing that he had spent so many years in WWE already, and many wondered why he would be going to what was and still is considered the company’s developmental brand.

But it definitely did this man a world of good, as the talent over at NXT has been known to be quite extraordinary, despite recent releases, and everybody there steps up their game, as well as the games of anybody coming in, whether veteran or novice. How could you not with the likes of Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole around?

Regardless, McIntyre did very well there and by the time 2018 rolled around, he was ready for the main roster once again and turned heel as soon as he got there.

Of course, turning heel doesn’t provide you with a golden pass into the adoring arms of the fans. It takes time for a heel to be loved and in time that too occurred for McIntyre, which “Stone Cold” Steve Austin most certainly knows a little about.

Stone Cold’s dominance as a heel and what it can mean for the future heels in the business

Steve Austin never tried to be liked. He was a heel that caught on astronomically with the fans, and as I’ve stated, all without lifting a finger to do it. It happened rather organically if you will.

Even as a face, “Stone Cold” wasn’t at all a hero; he never tried or lifted a hand to help a face in trouble. He was there for his business and his winning of titles and people loved that honesty.

It also helped that he became an unwilling spokesman for working stiffs the world over, but perhaps that’s a topic for another day.

In essence, Austin was a heel that got over, and that not only happened for him once, but twice, even after his heel turn in 2001, if a heel who’s cheered can turn heel…?

Anyways, he got over then too, even while with the dreaded Alliance.

How this can help McIntyre

Turning McIntyre face worked, but only for a brief time. Heck, he won the WWE Championship as a face. My only criticism of him, though, is that he has let go of the dark personality he had as a heel, which was what got him over with the audience in the first place.

The crowd reacted to a darker hero, for lack of a better term; essentially, someone they could root for that wasn’t so goody-goody.

He needs to get back to that, and that’s why I believe he should turn heel. Then, and perhaps only then, he will win over the audience once again.

He just needs to remember that once they start cheering explosively again, he needs to lay off of the little story and history lesson promos and just stay dark. Raw could do with a little dark creativity anyways, as we all know.