WWE Rumors: Latest on Drew McIntyre's Contract Entering WrestleMania 39

Drew McIntyre is getting ready for one of the most-anticipated matches at WrestleMania 39 on Sunday, but his long-term future with WWE looks to be uncertain.

Per Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, the Scottish Warrior is in the final year of his contract, and the two sides "aren't even close" to agreeing on a new deal.

Johnson did note McIntyre's contract isn't set to expire "imminently," but the end is approaching at some point in 2023 unless they can work out an extension.

Per Fightful Select (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), McIntyre's contract is "one of many" in WWE that are set to expire by the end of 2024 after a lot of talent received five-year deals in 2019 with the emergence of All Elite Wrestling.

"Fightful had been told towards the end of the Vince McMahon era that the company would likely wait until closer to the contract expiration to renew deals, but we haven't learned how that's changed under Triple H," the report stated.

There is a lot of time between now and the end of 2024, so a lot of things will likely change in the coming months as WWE engages talent about signing new deals. There could end up being some people who leave, but the company will likely be cautious about letting too many superstars depart with the possibility of going to AEW available to them.

Since it sounds like there is still time for McIntyre and WWE to find common ground, fans don't need to be concerned about him potentially leaving.

If McIntyre did become a free agent, he could try to get WWE into a bidding war with All Elite Wrestling or New Japan Pro-Wrestling to drive up his price.

There's certainly no indication from how McIntyre is being booked that the creative team is worried about his departure. He is set to take on Sheamus and Gunther in a Triple Threat match for the Intercontinental Championship on Night 2 of WrestleMania.

McIntyre has been one of the top stars in WWE since returning to the promotion in 2017. He had a brief stint in NXT, including a three-month reign as NXT champion.

After returning from a torn bicep in April 2018, McIntyre was brought up to the main roster. He won the 2020 Royal Rumble and went on to defeat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36 to win the WWE title for the first time.

WrestleMania 39 will mark McIntyre's eighth time competing on the biggest WWE show of the year. He defeated Happy Corbin at last year's event.

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