Professional wrestling is a world of sliding doors small twists of fate that can rewrite entire careers. Perhaps none is more intriguing in recent WWE history than the road not taken by Drew McIntyre in 2017. Fresh off a globe-trotting independent run that revitalized both his reputation and his passion, McIntyre was primed to sign with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). But a surprise phone call changed everything. Here’s the inside story of the Scottish Warrior’s near-miss move to Japan and his blockbuster return to WWE.
Drew McIntyre’s Reset on the Indies
After his initial WWE run ended with a whimper he infamously lost on live TV right after being dubbed “The Chosen One” by Vince McMahon McIntyre (real name Drew Galloway) rebuilt himself from scratch. He became a top attraction on the international circuit, capturing major titles in TNA (now Impact Wrestling), ICW, EVOLVE, and WCPW[4]. His intense, hard-hitting style and veteran presence helped elevate every promotion he worked for, and McIntyre himself felt he was at his creative and physical peak.
“I’d seen the world, worked with the best, and made a real name for myself outside of WWE,” McIntyre would later reflect, noting how he helped put eyes on companies and talent during his independent run[4].
The NJPW Temptation
With his TNA contract expiring in early 2017, the Scot found himself at a career crossroads. For McIntyre, the allure of NJPW was strong. He’d never wrestled in Japan and saw it as the next logical challenge a chance to test himself in one of pro wrestling’s most respected, in-ring-focused promotions[1]. According to sources close to McIntyre at the time, he was “in active talks” with NJPW and had even started to discuss creative plans with key figures there[7].
“For a guy like Drew, who’s always wanted to do it all, New Japan was the next frontier,” a wrestling insider familiar with the negotiations told us. “The way he talked about it, you could tell it was a dream of his especially after working everywhere else. He wanted that Okada match, that G1 experience. It was real.”
The Call That Changed Everything
Just as McIntyre was finalizing his plans to head to Japan, the phone rang. On the other end was William Regal—a mentor, a fellow Brit, and a respected voice in WWE’s talent relations. “Regal had always kept tabs on Drew, even when he was away,” said a WWE source. “He saw Drew tearing it up, knew his value, and wanted him back in the family[1].”
The conversation led to an immediate introduction to Triple H, the then-head of WWE’s NXT brand. At the time, NXT was riding high as the hottest alternative to New Japan in global wrestling, with stars like Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, and Bobby Roode leading the way. Within weeks, McIntyre had a decision to make.
A Career-Defining Decision
McIntyre later admitted the moment was “tough,” especially as he and his wife weighed their lives outside the ring. “My wife and I had to decide our next move literally, that day,” he recalled in an interview. “I was thinking I was gonna go to New Japan, probably. I really wanted to go there and work there. Then I got the call from Regal, who set up the talk with Triple H[1].”
Triple H pitched McIntyre on a return but not immediately to the main roster. Instead, it would be to NXT, with a spotlight on McIntyre’s evolution as a performer and a chance to shape the future of WWE’s developmental brand. “Triple H saw Drew not just as a returnee, but as a centerpiece for NXT’s next era,” revealed a company insider. “There was a real belief that Drew could be the bridge between the indies and WWE’s global ambitions[1].”
Ultimately, McIntyre chose WWE and NXT, believing he could make the biggest impact there not just for himself, but for the wrestlers he’d worked with and against on the independents. He made his return at NXT TakeOver: Orlando on April 1, 2017, sitting in the front row before the main event between Bobby Roo