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After a hiatus spanning several months, fans of "WWE Raw" were only recently treated to the welcome return of Drew McIntyre, the former WWE Champion. Yet, less than two weeks since his riveting confrontation with WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, following the latter's win over Matt Riddle at the Money in the Bank event, McIntyre's admirers will have to endure an episode without him.
According to a report by PWInsider, McIntyre will be conspicuously absent from next week's airing of "WWE Raw." Instead, he will be committed to what has been referred to as an "outside gig," organized via WWE. While the specifics of this engagement remain in mystery, viewers of the most recent "Raw" episode will remember McIntyre's disclosure to Riddle about being unavailable the following week due to unspecified "company business." Consequently, McIntyre will not be at Riddle's side when he rechallenges GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Title.
However, Riddle seems relaxed, mainly since he successfully got GUNTHER's allies, Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser, banned from ringside.
McIntyre's Mysterious Absence Explained
No indications have been given regarding McIntyre's absence from future "Raw" episodes, which suggests this might be a unique occurrence.
However, the details surrounding this enigmatic project add yet another layer to the narrative of McIntyre's evolving WWE story. McIntyre, rumored to be GUNTHER's next contender for the Intercontinental Title at the forthcoming SummerSlam event, will have to juggle ongoing contract negotiations with WWE.
Scheduled for August 5 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, the SummerSlam showdown promises high-stakes drama, as McIntyre is tipped to challenge the Intercontinental Title. The clash, however, will take place against the backdrop of McIntyre's ongoing contract talks with WWE.
The terms of his current contract are set to expire towards the end of the year, adding a layer of intrigue to his future with the company. This intricate, interwoven tale of contractual negotiations, mystery projects, and potential championship opportunities underlines McIntyre's importance within the WWE universe. Fans and industry insiders will watch keenly to see how this chapter in McIntyre's WWE story unfolds.