WWE or AEW: Where Should Drew McIntyre Sign When His Contract Expires?

Drew McIntyre has been a hot topic of conversation among wrestling fans for the last nine months, with rumors running rampant regarding his contractual status with WWE.

There have been plenty of rumblings as to what his future could hold since news originally broke last WrestleMania weekend that his contract was soon set to expire, but the latest word from PWInsider in late November was that he had yet to enter "deep negotiations" with the company for a new contract.

Meanwhile, the Scot has been a bigger fixture on WWE TV for the past few months than at any other point in the last three years. He's also been a recurring highlight with his exceptional work as a heel and standout matches with Seth Rollins, Jey Uso and Sami Zayn.

Although all signs ultimately point to him sticking with WWE, a jump to All Elite Wrestling can't be counted out completely. It hasn't been unheard of for former WWE stars to enter free agency and end up in AEW soon after, and it wouldn't be the first time The Scottish Warrior has made a major splash in a rival promotion.

McIntyre is sure to shine wherever he goes, but will WWE or AEW prove to be the better fit for him once his current deal expires?

How Turning Heel Has Breathed New Life into His Character

At this time one year ago, it was easy for fans to understand why McIntyre would want out of WWE.

He was still in a pretty prominent role on WWE TV but seemed to be stuck at the upper-midcard level, fighting for the Intercontinental Championship and waging war with longtime rival Sheamus.

Upon taking time off from WWE TV post-'Mania, the 38-year-old was in no rush to return until a proper plan was in place, per Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter. His hiatus allowed him to resurface during SummerSlam season feeling fresher than he was before and with a significant storyline to sink his teeth into.

In the months that followed, WWE took its time with his slow-burn heel turn by telling the story that he was frustrated and fed up with more popular Superstars stealing the spotlight.

The brilliant angle culminated in McIntyre turning his back on the audience in the leadup to Survivor Series, and he's arguably been the best part of Raw every week ever since.

Even with the high-profile losses he's racked up in recent months, there's a lot left to explore with this character and why he shouldn't be eyeing the exit just yet.

All Signs Point to Him Taking Time Off Regardless

Until McIntyre speaks out about the situation himself, it's impossible to accurately say what's currently keeping him from signing a new deal.

If it's solely money-related, the company should be more than willing to pay the two-time WWE champion what he feels he's worth. He was invaluable to it throughout the pandemic and has remained a perennial main event player in the past four years.

At the end of the day, McIntyre deciding to let his contract expire might be more about him wanting to take some extended time off from the road and spend it with family.

He said as much in recent promo exchange he had with Seth Rollins on Raw, alluding to how he hasn't been home for milestone moments in his life throughout his career. He's never been away from the business for more than a few months at a time and this could be his opportunity to take a step back, if only temporarily.

WWE has been wise to utilize McIntyre in a meaningful manner in the meantime and not "bury" him on the way as it has with others in the past. Fans shouldn't take a pending hiatus as a definitive sign he won't return despite that also being within the realm of possibility.

McIntyre Debut at All In Is Realistic Possibility

If McIntyre chooses not to re-sign at the end of his current WWE deal, some fans will automatically assume he'll be back before long. In reality, nothing is guaranteed in this sort of situation, and there's been enough instances in recent wrestling history to reinforce that fact.

Shortly following WrestleMania 37 in 2021, Daniel Bryan quietly left WWE when his contract expired. For months, the belief among the audience—as well as many within the company no doubt—was that he'd be back eventually in some form or fashion, but he instead signed with AEW that summer and has had an outstanding run there.

Jeff Hardy did something similar in 2009 when he left WWE on amicable terms before showing up in TNA at the onset of 2010, staying there for a whopping seven years. Adam Copeland, whose WWE contract expired last August, also made a shocking jump to AEW when at one point that would have been unfathomable.

McIntyre can just as easily follow in their footsteps, especially if the timing worked out and he could debut at All In. The reaction he'd receive in front of that raucous crowd in Wembley Stadium would be thunderous and would make for a monumental moment.

Would He Be Lost in the Shuffle in AEW?

As surreal as it would be to see McIntyre make an appearance at All In on August 25 and have that mark his AEW debut, one must question whether he'd be able to sustain that momentum in the long term.

He would not be a part-time performer in AEW, and he should be every bit as active there as he has been in WWE up to this point. But with no brand split in place in AEW and the roster already being as bloated as it is, it isn't set in stone that he'd be a mainstay in its main event scene.

It's entirely dependent on what the landscape of the company will look like then. MJF, Adam Cole and Kenny Omega are all out injured at the moment, but AEW could recruit even more notable names in the coming months.

Will Ospreay is on his way in and is bound to be the guy the product is built around as a world-class competitor. As a result, the Englishman alone could overshadow McIntyre and hurt his chances of being slotted toward the top of the card.

The Scottish Warrior would have the chance to mix it up with a ton of fresh opponents and likely be successful, but it's far bigger risk than if he stayed put in WWE.

WWE Is Ultimately Where He Belongs

WWE has done a tremendous job of organically making McIntyre a main event star over the years. And with so much still to do, it's where he'd be best suited for the next few years at least.

Of course, this is only under the assumption WWE makes him a worthy offer, and that he feels fulfilled creatively in the company. AEW would treat him like the top talent he is, but he's had a great thing going in WWE for many months and should stick around to enjoy the continued success.

This could come following a indefinite hiatus, but once he's ready to return, the Scot should pick up right where he left off in WWE.

His current character arc has been fun to follow, and there's a lot of ground left to cover. He has yet to resolve his rivalry with Sami Zayn or cross paths with Cody Rhodes, but most importantly, he should be wearing world title gold within the next year.

Until he decides what the next stage of his career is going to look like, McIntyre will have fans analyzing his every move and reminding the world how hot of a commodity he is.

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Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.