Following his attack on Cody Rhodes on last week’s episode, Drew McIntyre will appear on the Friday, August 15 SmackDown to address his issues with the Undisputed WWE Champion.
McIntyre and Logan Paul teamed against Rhodes and John Cena in the SmackDown main event last week, a match that ended in a DQ after Paul hit Cena with a low blow. As Cena and Paul fought off, McIntyre attacked Rhodes and sent him through the base of the announce table with a Claymore Kick.
The new McIntyre segment joins Friday’s lineup that includes The Miz and Carmelo Hayes in tag team action, plus DIY vs. The Street Profits. A Jade Cargill and Michin vs. Kiana James and Giulia match has also been teased for the show.
WWE SmackDown, Friday, August 15 —
Drew McIntyre addresses his actions against Cody Rhodes
Drew McIntyre says Brock Lesnar brings the headlines.
McIntyre recently spoke with The West Sport in Australia to promote Crown Jewel on October 11 in Perth. During the interview, he was asked about his reaction to Lesnar’s return at SummerSlam, where Lesnar gave John Cena an F-5.
“I just thought ‘There’s Brock, there here is.’ I didn’t think anything crazy.”
“I’d finished my last appearance. I got on a plane. I believe I just arrived home in the Nashville area here where I saw it and I went, ‘Oh, there he is.’ Brock is back. He’s the beast. He causes a lot of headlines and most importantly he’s also the guy I beat in the main event of Wrestlemania for my first WWE Championship in five minutes.”
McIntyre defeated Lesnar for the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 36 night two, held at the WWE Performance Center in front of no fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The match went just four and a half minutes and is the only singles match the two have had. McIntyre would lose the title to Randy Orton at Hell in a Cell 2020 that October but regained it a few weeks later on Raw at the ThunderDome. Then in February 2021, The Miz successfully cashed in on McIntyre after McIntyre had won the men’s Elimination Chamber match.
McIntyre’s full interview with The West Sport is available below:
Jelly Roll put in a strong effort and had the fans on his side, but he ultimately came up short in his WWE in-ring debut.
The 40-year-old country music star teamed with Randy Orton at SummerSlam night one, losing to Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre. It was Paul who got the victory for the heels, pinning Jelly Roll after the two celebrities were the only two left in the ring.
Jelly Roll got off to a good start before Paul took him out with a frog splash through the announce table. WWE teased that Jelly Roll wouldn’t be able to continue, but he refused to abandon his tag partner. Jelly Roll returned to the match, delivering a chokeslam to Paul and a Bossman slam to McIntyre. He then hit a powerslam on Paul, but McIntyre broke up the pin before the referee could count to three.
Logan Paul just SOARED onto Jelly Roll and crashed through the announce table at SummerSlam! 😲 pic.twitter.com/db7RkuXYq0
The closing stretch saw McIntyre hit a Claymore on Jelly Roll before Orton laid out McIntyre with an RKO. Paul then threw Orton into the ring post and hit another frog splash on Jelly Roll for the victory.
Jelly Roll, who has lost approximately 200 pounds since his highest weight, did reach a huge milestone by weighing in at 299 pounds for tonight’s match. It’s the first time he’s been under 300 pounds since grade school.
“He’s working as hard as anyone — if not harder — than anyone that I’ve ever seen come into our world,” Orton told ESPN’s Get Up prior to SummerSlam.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted out a video of him and Jelly Roll sharing a moment backstage after the match.
Never underestimate where determination will take you… @JellyRoll615 went on a fitness journey, got healthy and tonight competed in a @WWE ring next to @RandyOrton at #SummerSlam.
Drew McIntyre has an update on his WWE SummerSlam status.
In a social media post Wednesday night, McIntyre revealed that his passport issue has been resolved, and that he will in fact team with Logan Paul against Jelly Roll and Randy Orton on night one of the event.
In his video post, McIntyre first took kayfabe shots at anyone texting or messaging him regarding his being stuck in the United Kingdom due to a passport snafu as only looking for information to leak. He then ripped The Miz for offering to take his spot in Saturday’s tag team match, calling him “Mike Mizark” and “Missionary Mike,” before revealing that he was training alongside Paul.
McIntyre credited Paul for having more powerful friends than Jelly Roll in helping to clear up his passport issue and getting him back into the United States ahead of this weekend.
“Come Saturday, you and Randy Orton are screwed,” McIntyre said.
WWE SummerSlam takes place this Saturday and Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern time, with three-hour pre-shows set for both days at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
WWE SummerSlam
Night one (Saturday, August 2):
Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against CM Punk
Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul
Roman Reigns & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Jade Cargill
Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
Night two (Sunday, August 3):
Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio defends against AJ Styles
Street fight: Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena defends against Cody Rhodes
Steel cage match: United States Champion Solo Sikoa defends against Jacob Fatu
No DQ match: Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Lyra Valkyria (if Lynch retains, Valkyria cannot challenge for the title again while Lynch is champion)
Women’s World Champion Naomi defends against IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match
Six-pack TLC match: WWE Tag Team Champions The Wyatt Sicks defend against Motor City Machine Guns, The Street Profits, DIY, Fraxiom, and Andrade & Rey Fenix
If there’s an opening on the WWE SummerSlam card, The Miz wants to be the person to take it.
The Miz cut an Instagram promo today saying that, with Drew McIntyre’s status for SummerSlam in question, he wants to team with Logan Paul at the PLE instead. McIntyre & Paul are currently scheduled to face Randy Orton & Jelly Roll at SummerSlam night one this Saturday, but McIntyre says he stuck in the United Kingdom due to passport issues and might not be able to make it.
“If Drew is out. I want in,” Miz wrote in the caption for his Instagram post.
Back at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Miz teamed with Paul in what was Paul’s first-ever pro wrestling match. Jelly Roll — a country music star — is now making his debut on Saturday as he becomes the latest celebrity to crossover from being a fan to competing in a WWE ring.
Miz applauded Jelly Roll for how hard he’s worked preparing for his debut, but Miz said there’s a difference between dreaming of being a wrestler and living the reality of it every day.
“This isn’t a bucket list, this is my life,” Miz said. “And I’m sick of waiting for my moment.”
There has been no official announcement by WWE yet regarding McIntyre’s status for SummerSlam or if Miz will be replacing him. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is hosting the two-night event this Saturday and Sunday. Both nights have a start time of 6 p.m. Eastern airing live on Peacock in the United States and Netflix elsewhere.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including what’s going on with Drew McIntyre and whether he’ll make SummerSlam, the full line-up for each night of that show, G-1 update, Mexico update, Collision and Smackdown spoilers, lots of Hulk Hogan discussion, and more. A packed show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps: Start: Drew McIntyre update, updated lineups for WWE SummerSlam 3:41: NJPW G1 updates 8:22: Lineups for the coming week, WWE SmackDown vs. AEW Collision 14:58: Big weekend in Mexico between WWE, AAA, CMLL 22:13: RIZIN sells out Tokyo Dome 24:37: AEW Collision recap 48:21: WWE SmackDown recap
The former WWE Champion took to social media on Sunday and said he was stuck in England due to not having his United States passport with him as he was boarding a plane back to the US with his wife. The caption on the video mentions that as a result, there’s a “good chance” he won’t make it to SummerSlam next weekend.
PWInsider is reporting that their sources say it’s a “legitimate issue” the company is currently dealing with.
“I can’t get back in America. They wouldn’t let me board my flight…I’m in England still at a buddies wedding, what a wedding it was. Planning to go back, train for SummerSlam, but no no no no no, I got blocked. Wife and I walk to the gate, trying to check in. Always goes perfectly fine. Not this time. Drew, you don’t have your US passport. I know who you are, I know that you’ve lived there for a long time, you’re showing me pictures of your US passport and your global entry, but it doesn’t matter.”
Why am I stranded? Why am I cutting a promo with cows?
McIntyre said his wife went home without him to tend to their sick animals. He concluded that Jelly Roll was behind the issue and promised he was going to “drop” the country singer and would make him pay. He and Logan Paul are currently set to team up and take on Randy Orton and Jelly Roll on the first night of SummerSlam on August 2.
Drew McIntyre says the current version of his character likely wouldn’t have developed without Triple H.
During an appearance on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast on Tuesday, McIntyre discussed the difference between working under Vince McMahon and working under Triple H.
McIntyre said:
“I mean, it’s different. Obviously, Hunter learned under Vince, and he created the world that we’re currently in. But Hunter is very much of the modern thinking.”
“For Vince, I think for me personally, he had a certain image of me, and he was always looking to protect me as this warrior character.”
“If I went to try something outside the box, the stuff I’m doing now, for me personally, it probably wouldn’t happen just because he was like, ‘No, this is my Drew. This is my warrior. This is how I see it.’ And Hunter was very much of the mindset, we’re going to try something different.”
“We’re going to try this and let you be yourself and let this personality that he knew I had shine. And from the second we had our first conversation when he took over, it’s been exactly that. We’ve developed this McIntyre character and we watched what happened with the Bloodline.”
When asked if it’s primarily him driving his character development, McIntyre responded:
“I have a big voice in it but it’s the creative team, it’s Hunter himself, it’s all of us working together.”
Paul asked McIntyre if he had any advice for him. McIntyre responded by saying Paul needs to prepare for turning babyface in the future.
“People don’t believe it and they’re going to laugh when I say it, the marks out there, but eventually you’re going to turn babyface like Dominik’s doing right now. There’s a fine line between love and hate, and eventually you’re going to be getting wildly cheered down the line.”
Paul asked McIntyre if he thinks Seth Rollins’ injury is real or fake, mentioning that he’s not sure about it himself. McIntyre responded:
“I just don’t see the benefit if it was a storyline. Like, it’s the Money in the Bank briefcase, It’s gonna be a surprise, anyway.”
“I mean, I love a surprise. At the same time I can’t see it. But at the same time I don’t have to be able to see it if there’s a bigger plan.”
Paul and McIntyre are scheduled to face Randy Orton and Jelly Roll coming up at WWE SummerSlam. Their conversation also included discussion of possible team names, McIntyre being released by WWE in 2014, and more. The full episode of the show is available below:
For the first time since winning the WWE Tag Team titles a week ago, the first defense for The Wyatt Sicks will come on next week’s edition of SmackDown.
Made during Friday’s show, Rey Mysterio & Andrade will challenge Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy for the gold they won from The Street Profits. The duo earned the shot in a fatal four-way as they defeated three sets of former champions in #DIY, Fraxiom and the Motor City Machine Guns.
Mysterio last held the gold with Dominik Mysterio in 2021 while Andrade has never held WWE tag team gold.
Jelly Roll, Logan Paul, Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre will all be on hand as the build toward their SummerSlam match — and Jelly Roll’s pro wrestling debut — continues.
Ahead of Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair challenging Women’s Tag Team Champions Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez at SummerSlam, Bliss and Perez will go one-on-one.
Here’s the current lineup for Cleveland, Ohio:
Jelly Roll, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul appearances
WWE Tag Team Champions The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) defend against Andrade & Rey Fenix
An angle building up WWE SummerSlam went down on late-night TV last night.
Just a couple weeks away from making his WWE in-ring debut, country music star Jelly Roll guest hosted Wednesday night’s edition of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” His upcoming tag partner Randy Orton was a guest on the show. But seven minutes into the interview, the two were interrupted by their SummerSlam opponents.
Drew McIntyre crashed the show, insulting Jelly Roll by calling him “trailer trash.” A brawl between Orton and McIntyre then broke out and spilled backstage. Logan Paul took that opportunity to confront Jelly Roll and bully him by slapping him in the face — but it was Jelly Roll who came out on top after chokeslamming Paul through the talk show’s desk.
Full video of the angle can be watched below:
At Saturday Night’s Main Event last weekend, it was confirmed that Orton & Jelly Roll will face McIntyre & Paul at SummerSlam 2025. The two-night PLE will emanate live from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3.
This will be the 40-year-old Jelly Roll’s first match, but he’s a big WWE fan and has made multiple appearances for the company dating back to 2023. Jelly Roll told “The Pat McAfee Show” that, in preparation for this match, he’s been training at the WWE Performance Center training every day for the past few weeks.
Jelly Roll is officially set to make his in-ring debut at WWE SummerSlam.
The 40-year-old country music star will team up with Randy Orton when they take on Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam. After the build to the match began on Friday’s SmackDown, it was officially confirmed tonight during Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Orton and McIntyre faced off in a singles match tonight with Jelly Roll and Paul in their respective corners. Jelly Roll and Paul got into it at ringside, which led to McIntyre being distracted and losing to an RKO from Orton.
There was then a post-match angle where Paul attacked Orton. Jelly Roll made the save, dropping Paul with a punch. But when Jelly Roll went to check on Orton, McIntyre laid the musician out with a Claymore.
Later in the show, Jelly Roll & Orton did an interview where they challenged Paul & McIntyre for SummerSlam. WWE has since confirmed the match.
Jelly Roll has been nominated for four Grammys in his music career. He’s a big WWE fan who first interacted with Orton on an episode of Raw in 2023. Some of Jelly Roll’s popularity is due to him being seen as an inspirational figure that’s overcome a difficult past where he dealt drugs and spent time in jail. He’s also dropped approximately 200 pounds from his highest weight.
This is the first two-night SummerSlam in history. It’s being held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3, and rap star Cardi B will be the host of the show.
Three matches have been announced so far (nights to be announced):
WWE SummerSlam 2025 —
Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena defends against Cody Rhodes
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Jade Cargill
Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul
Drew McIntyre is back, and he’ll be in action next weekend.
After taking some time off, McIntyre appeared in the opening segment of Friday’s SmackDown, attempting to meddle between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. After Orton laid him out with an RKO, McIntyre confronted Aldis backstage about the situation. The match was then made for next Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia.
McIntyre was last seen on the May 24 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he lost a steel cage match to Damian Priest. The two finished off their feud that also saw them compete in a Sin City Street Fight at WrestleMania 41, which McIntyre won.
Rhodes and Orton were talking about their match at Night of Champions on SmackDown when McIntyre came out to mock them for their “beta male energy.” He attempted to get under both men’s skin, telling Rhodes that he hoped he would win at SummerSlam as he wanted to be the one to take the title off him. It was then that Orton laid out McIntyre with an RKO. The segment ended with Orton and Rhodes staring each other down.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event (Saturday, July 12):
World Championship: Gunther defends against Goldberg
Drew McIntyre is banged up right now, but it’s not enough to force him out of action.
There was a spot at WWE Backlash earlier this month where McIntyre’s head hit the floor when he was given a South of Heaven chokeslam by Damian Priest from a production area through a table. McIntyre was evaluated by the medical team backstage after the match but was not seriously injured.
At Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend, McIntyre and Priest will continue their rivalry with a steel cage match. McIntyre told the Orlando Sentinel that he can’t turn his head all the way left yet after the spot with Priest at Backlash, but there’s a difference between being hurt and being injured.
“Working hurt is just what happens if you’re an athlete, especially as the years go by,” McIntyre said. “If you’re injured, it is something to take care of. Maybe back in the day, we would have taped it up and gone with it. In the past I have worked with muscle tears and breaks, which isn’t the most sensible thing, but the way we operate now, you want to last for the long run.”
Saturday Night’s Main Event is taking place at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida on May 24. The episode will stream live on NBC and Peacock starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event (Saturday, May 24) —
World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso defends against Logan Paul
CM Punk & Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker
Non-title match: Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena vs. R-Truth
It was made official on SmackDown that John Cena will face R-Truth in a non-title match. During this past weekend’s Backlash post-show press conference, Cena attacked Truth by putting him through a table, even after Truth’s interference helped him retain the WWE title against Randy Orton just minutes earlier.
In a sit-down interview with Wade Barrett that aired on SmackDown, Truth said that Cena won the match on his own and the Cena he knows wouldn’t turn his back on the people that believed in him. He said he didn’t want to beat Cena, but if he had to beat some sense into him, that’s what he’d have to do.
“If I have to beat him back to his senses, then I'll do it”
During a video package that aired on Friday, Damian Priest said he wanted to settle his unfinished business with Drew McIntyre, saying both have been involved in each other’s business and is mad at himself for getting into McIntyre’s vortex. He challenged McIntyre to a steel cage match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
McIntyre responded by coming out for a promo and accepting the challenge for next Saturday, saying only one of them will walk out of the cage as the other will leave on a stretcher.
