Drew McIntyre Shocks WWE Fans with Surprise RAW Return—What It Means for the World Title Picture

WWE’s “Scottish Warrior” Drew McIntyre finds himself at the center of the sports-entertainment spotlight again after a punishing steel cage clash with Damian Priest at Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) on May 24, 2025 — a bout that Priest ultimately won after repeated chair shots and an Escalera powerbomb that sent McIntyre crashing to the canvas. Match recap and key moments • The bad blood that began on SmackDown spilled into the Tampa-based SNME, where McIntyre demanded the cage to “keep the Judgment Day out.” • Priest targeted McIntyre’s taped ribs from the opening bell, capitalizing on an injury McIntyre admits he has been working through since WWE Backlash. • A Claymore out of nowhere nearly secured the win, but Priest’s foot on the bottom rope forced a restart. Moments later, Priest wedged a steel chair between the ropes, dodged a second Claymore, and drove McIntyre face-first into the metal before escaping through the door for the victory. Injury update: How hurt is Drew McIntyre? Speaking to Cultaholic, McIntyre revealed he has wrestled “well below 100 percent” for weeks, citing nagging lower-back and rib issues that flared up after his rough landing at Backlash. He refused medical help post-match, walking to the locker room on his own power amid a standing ovation from the Amalie Arena crowd. Ringside medics, however, noted visible bruising and recommended imaging to rule out cracked ribs. What this means for Money in the Bank and SummerSlam season • McIntyre was considered a front-runner for the 2025 Money in the Bank ladder match; an aggravated rib injury could jeopardize that spot. • Priest’s decisive win strengthens his claim to a future world-title opportunity and may accelerate Judgment Day’s push toward championship gold. • WWE creative sources tell Bleacher Report that contingency plans include slotting LA Knight or Kevin Owens into McIntyre’s position if the Scotsman is medically disqualified. Fan and social media reaction Within minutes of the cage door swinging open, #DrewMcIntyre and #DamianPriest shot to the top of X (formerly Twitter) trends worldwide as clips of Priest’s brutal chair assault went viral. Many fans praised McIntyre’s resiliency, while others questioned WWE’s decision to let an injured star compete in such a high-risk environment. SEO takeaway: why “Drew McIntyre injury update” is surging Search volume for “Drew McIntyre injury update,” “Drew McIntyre vs Damian Priest results,” and “McIntyre working hurt” spiked more than 800 percent overnight, according to Google Trends. With the road to SummerSlam heating up, the WWE Universe clearly wants answers on whether its beloved Scottish powerhouse can stay in the title hunt. Stay tuned to this page for real-time updates on McIntyre’s medical evaluation, Money in the Bank status, and the next showdown between two of WWE’s most talked-about heavyweights.