Highlights
- Drew McIntyre's journey has been filled with obstacles and close calls, adding depth to his character.
- Seth Rollins lacks a compelling character and may be transitioning away from being a babyface.
- Seth Rollins turning heel would be a perfect match for his feud with CM Punk.
WWE will open 2024 with a marquee main event. Seth Rollins defends his World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre on the New Year's Day edition of Monday Night Raw.
For the last year, Rollins has been one of the top babyfaces in the company. Meanwhile, Drew has found himself in an odd state of limbo, marred by injury and absences. The Scottish Warrior has flirted with a full-fledged heel turn, but his likability has made that transition challenging. As Rollins and McIntyre barrel towards a new year with an enticing rivalry, the lines between babyface and heel are becoming blurred.
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Drew McIntyre Told Seth Rollins What He Is Fighting For
- Drew McIntyre's first WWE Championship reign was plagued by the pandemic.
- Drew McIntyre missed family events for WWE.
Before their match at Crown Jewel, McIntyre made an honest and respectful challenge for Rollins' World Heavyweight Championship. No surprise attack. No promo burial. It was just a gentlemen's challenge, a rarity for the start of any WWE program.
In the build to the championship bout, Drew talked about his brushes with superstardom. His epic 2020 Royal Rumble win had fans ready to run through brick walls for the man. Unfortunately, the pandemic plagued his WWE Championship win at WrestleMania and his entire title reign. Two years later, McIntyre's opportunity against Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle was thwarted by interference and shenanigans. These close calls with "the BIG moment" have made McIntyre's journey all the more harrowing and have helped add layers to his character.
But McIntyre's most engaging character work came in his go-home promo on the December 18th installment of Raw. Drew discussed his sacrifices for his WWE career and the fans. Like Rollins' wife, Becky Lynch, Drew spends most of his life on a continent other than his family.
"When a family member gets sick, when a parent gets sick - My mom. Her [Lynch's] dad. - And all we want to do is be by their side and hold their hand and be there for them when they're going through it. But they tell us, 'Don't you dare come home! You keep chasing that dream, and you make it happen!' And that's exactly what we did, but then suddenly they're not here anymore... Seth... I don't want your title. I need your title. I need that validation. I have to know all these sacrifices were worth it."
- Drew McIntyre on Monday Night Raw, 12/18/23
If that doesn't get your heart pumping and melting simultaneously, I'm not sure what will. Will it be enough to push Drew over the hump and deliver his most significant win since his empty arena victory at WrestleMania in 2020?
Seth Rollins' Flat Character Offers No Sympathy
Seth Rollins Copied "Hangman" Adam Page In A Raw Promo
- Seth Rollins' gimmick is over with WWE fans.
- Seth Rollins still has heelish antics to his babyface character.
Seth Rollins is over with the WWE fans. There's no doubt about that. The question is: why? Since turning babyface, Seth Rollins hasn't really had a character. The WWE fans love to sing his song. He wears an outlandish wardrobe. And he laughs -- at everything. That's not a character, though. Those are characteristics. Holes aside, the approach has worked with the WWE fanbase.
His cartoonish personality is difficult to take seriously when Seth Rollins stands next to a character with real depth, motivation, and desire (i.e., Drew McIntyre or CM Punk). And this dude is trying to be taken seriously. His retort to Drew's heartfelt promo was, "I don't hate you. I pity you." Despite this being anotherline plagiarized from Hangman Adam Page's 2022 promo, it does feel like an odd choice of words for a babyface. That is, of course, unless Seth Rollins is no longer a babyface.
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Seth Rollins Was A Great Heel
- CM Punk will be over as a babyface for the foreseeable future.
- Seth Rollins would make a great heel against CM Punk.
The return of CM Punk has WWE fans over the moon. For the next several months, the first note of Cult of Personality will prompt insane pops. The elation of Punk's presence will not subside anytime soon. And since it's apparent that Punk's first big feud will be against Seth Rollins, it only makes sense that Rollins takes the position as the heel. Rollins' loud costumes, constant laughing (at nothing), and obnoxious over-confidence work better as a heel than a babyface.
Whether WWE opts to finally give Drew his big moment in front of the live crowd is anyone's guess. Admittedly, a feud with Seth Rollins and CM Punk would feel a lot bigger with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship attached to it, but Drew's continued path toward glory also feels too palpable to ignore. The booking dilemma will make for a dramatic start to WWE's 2024.
