Drew McIntyre Absent From WWE Smackdown

Drew McIntyre will not be a part of WWE Smackdown this week after initial plans for him to be part of the show.

One of the biggest names on WWE’s Smackdown brand won’t be on the show tonight from Portland. It has been reported by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer that Drew McIntyre is off the show due to a health issue. As of this writing, it’s unknown what the issue is and the timetable for his return.

In addition to being off Smackdown tonight, McIntyre also missed a signing for WWE partner Cricket Wireless earlier today. He was replaced by the Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.

At WrestleMania 39 last Sunday night, Drew McIntyre competed in one of the best matches of his career. It was a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship match with Drew and his best friend Sheamus competing against GUNTHER.

The match was a physical battle with a lot of chops and strikes exchanged by the three powerhouses. At one point, it looked like Sheamus had the match won, but McIntyre broke up the pin. McIntyre came close to winning as well. GUNTHER got the pin after giving Sheamus a Powerbomb onto McIntyre and then a Powerbomb on McIntyre as well for the pinfall win.

That IC Title match at WrestleMania 39 earned a lot of praise with Dave Meltzer rating it five stars as well as myself in my live WrestleMania 39 review.

Over the last week, it was reported that Drew McIntyre is in the last year of his WWE contract with PWInsider noting that the two sides “aren’t even close” to agreeing on a new deal. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week, it was noted that “McIntyre did tell some of his friends that and didn’t expect it to get out, but the story is accurate” and “it’s a long ways away” meaning it could be months until the deal expires towards the end of the year.

Whatever the health issue is for McIntyre, we wish him a speedy recovery and hope for a return to action soon.