Drew McIntyre Addresses the Negative Perception for Jinder Mahal’s World Title Run, How Jinder Mahal Has Improved

– WrestlingInc.com’s Nick Hausman interviewed WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre ahead of today’s SummerSlam event. Drew McIntyre faces his former 3MB stablemate, Jinder Mahal, later today. Below are some highlights.

McIntyre on facing Mahal at SummerSlam: “It’s awesome, just knowing both of our journeys and how much we’ve been through with the ups and downs. And a lot of the downs we’ve been through together, especially some of my biggest downs, and he was there making sure I was okay. It’s so cool that both of us made that change right at the same time. Obviously, different paths. He returned to the company and decided within the system, I’m going to better myself. I’m going to make the most of this second opportunity. While I was outside the company, I was kind of making the most of what I saw as opportunity outside of WWE. He became WWE champion first. I returned and became NXT champion, WWE Champion, and now, we’re facing each other at SummerSlam, 40,000 plus people, in a singles match, which is absolutely bizarre. I’m very proud of him, and it makes me so sad that I have to defeat him and embarrass him in a big event.”

On the negative perception for Jinder Mahal’s world title run: “I reckon there’s a few reasons. His reign kind of came out of nowhere. There was one week he was just having random matches, if he was even on the show, and then suddenly, it was boom, he’s number one contender, boom he’s WWE Champion. You didn’t quite get to go on that journey with him to the title. With myself, we really took the time to explain my journey, explain my story. The fans got behind me organically, which was cool, all the way up to the Royal Rumble and then up to WrestleMania.”

Drew McIntyre on how Jinder Mahal has worked hard and improved: “I think that was the biggest difference, and also, he wasn’t quite where he is now. That’s why I’m so so excited about right now. He’s got this opportunity. He did the best he could with it. He worked extremely hard, but he was still improving along the way. I had a lot of miles and at the time I wanted. I was very confident at the top level. I’ve been able to grow since then, and now Jinder, especially mentally, is at that level right now, and I can’t wait to get in the ring and show everybody he’s way more capable in the ring, more importantly, when it comes to the storytelling and getting here at the top level.”