Why WWE Star Damian Priest Is Receiving Special Praise Backstage

Damian Priest has been turning heads backstage.

For much of 2025, Damian Priest has been at war with Drew McIntyre. After clashing in the men’s Royal Rumble match, the pair continued to take shots at each other, both verbal and physical, before finally meeting in a Sin City Street Fight at WrestleMania 41.

Despite the violence on show and the decisive victory for McIntyre, the feud has continued.

The pair have regularly attacked each other on SmackDown, and were involved in a Fatal Four Way match for the United States Championship at Backlash. But despite more than holding his own during the storyline, it seems it’s come at a cost for Priest.

WWE Stars In Awe Of Damian Priest

According to a new report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider, several WWE talents have been impressed by Priest’s high level of performance despite dealing with numerous injuries. The former World Champion is reportedly “banged up” as a result of his feud with McIntyre.

In a further update from Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, Priest suffered a “pretty rough mouth injury” during their most recent meeting. He added that while everyone online was concerned about McIntyre, it was his rival who came off worse, but he still didn’t miss any time.

Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre are set to do battle one more time inside a Steel Cage Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on May 24.