Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest Set for WrestleMania 41 Showdown

STAMFORD, Conn. — Wrestlers Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest are on a collision course for WWE WrestleMania 41, with the highly anticipated match gaining momentum during Friday’s episode of SmackDown. Priest issued a challenge to McIntyre in a vignette, although WWE has yet to officially confirm the bout for the two-night event scheduled for April 19 and April 20.

The rivalry has been brewing since this year’s Royal Rumble when Priest eliminated McIntyre, adding fuel to their ongoing feud. Last week’s SmackDown in London featured a dramatic segment where Priest slammed McIntyre onto a car windshield, resulting in McIntyre claiming he sustained glass wounds in his eye.

McIntyre made a subsequent appearance on this week’s SmackDown wearing an eye patch during his promo, emphasizing the serious nature of their altercation. A face-to-face confrontation between the two wrestlers is also slated for next week’s episode of SmackDown, further heightening tensions.

As it stands, the WrestleMania 41 card is taking shape, although the preliminary match list doesn’t yet officially include McIntyre and Priest. Fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation, especially given the history between the two competitors, which can be traced back to WrestleMania XL.

In a backstory rooted in personal ambition, McIntyre won the WWE Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL, only to have Priest cash in his Money in the Bank contract shortly after, leading to McIntyre losing the title within just over five minutes. This initial defeat set the stage for their grueling rivalry, marked by further clashes during the year’s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, both where Priest eliminated McIntyre.

“Bad things are going to happen,” McIntyre warned Priest, citing the continuing impact of their confrontations. “You ruined my moment and took away my title opportunities at WrestleMania.” He lamented the pain from the glass in his eye and stated he might never be the same.

The animosity escalated as McIntyre accused Priest of hiding behind cowardice by attacking him from behind instead of facing him in the ring. “He’s always been the villain of my story,” McIntyre stated.

In response, Priest derided McIntyre’s claims, dismissing him as a victim playing the blame game. He reiterated that both eliminations during the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber were fair, pointing fingers at McIntyre’s obsession with other rivals that cost him title chances.

“I’ll no longer be painted as the villain in this story,” Priest declared. “Drew needs to step up and face me like a man.” He issued a bold challenge for WrestleMania while their rivalry hangs in the balance.

The atmosphere thickens as WWE prepares for its marquee event next month, with fans eagerly anticipating whether this match will officially join the WrestleMania lineup. The confirmation could potentially transform the landscape of the narrative that has captivated WWE audiences for a full year.