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News recently broke that Drew McIntyre's contract with WWE is in its final year, and negotiations between the parties aren't close. However, according to a new report from Fightful Select, the situation may not be as alarming as it initially seemed.
Fightful reveals that McIntyre's contract is set to expire "within the next nine months," which takes it to the end of 2023 or even possibly into 2024. The report also notes that McIntyre is waiting until the end of his contract before signing a new deal, as there are many factors to consider.
This practice of waiting to enter negotiations until the contract is close to expiration has been common in WWE in the past. However, it must be clarified if the same is true under Paul Levesque's leadership. Many other WWE stars, including McIntyre, have contracts to expire within the next two years.
WWE signed several wrestlers to five-year deals in response to the birth of rival promotion AEW in 2019, but many of these stars were later released and re-hired during the COVID-19 pandemic. WWE is keen to retain McIntyre's services and looks forward to negotiating with him later this year.
Drew McIntyre's Recent WWE Performances
Drew McIntyre returned to WWE in 2017 after spending three years on the independent circuit. He won the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 36, just after the pandemic began.
He competed for that same title again at WrestleMania 37 in a losing effort against Bobby Lashley. This year, he is set to compete for the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Sheamus and GUNTHER on Night 2 of WrestleMania.
Overall, the situation with Drew McIntyre's contract may not be as urgent as some had initially thought. With several months still left on his current deal, there's plenty of time for both sides to agree. WWE will undoubtedly be eager to retain McIntyre's services, given his status as a former WWE Champion and his popularity among fans. Fans of McIntyre will have to wait and see what the future holds for the Scottish superstar.