Drew McIntyre Discusses Taking Time Away From WWE To Pursue Acting Work, Putting on More Muscle

During a recent interview with Insight with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre spoke about his career, taking over six months off from WWE to pursue acting work, and whether he’s put on muscle to prep for his WWE return. Below are some highlights from Insight:

Drew McIntyre on This Being the Longest Time He’s Had Off Since He Started Wrestling

“Ever, by far since I started wrestling at 15 years old. I have not had six months off. I started doing shows and wrestling basically every weekend or every second weekend when I was 16. My summer job was wrestling at the Butlins holiday camp since I was about 17, and when I tore my bicep, I was out for three months in NXT. I was going stir crazy, so I’d drive down to the PC just to work with Shawn and watch tapes and stuff because you’ve got Shawn Michaels; use him if you’re at the PC. I’ve heard somebody literally say, ‘Who’s the Rockers?’ One time while Shawn was standing there, learn your history for the love of God. When I broke my neck, I was out for eight weeks physicality-wise, but I was doing promos in the second or third week for Evolve and a few other independent companies locally, where I’d take off the brace, cut the promo, head to the back. So this is by far the most amount of time I’ve ever had off.”

On How He’s Kept Busy With His Acting Projects

“Yeah, very, very busy. It has not felt like time off until the past couple of weeks, few weeks, where I’ve actually been at the house with the missus and the cats. It’s been nice, but I’ve been working a lot. It’s been very different. I’ve spent my whole life on the road from town to town, from country to country, 52 weeks a year, no reruns, no offseason in WWE, or the time I was away from WWE, I was even busier than the WWE schedule. So to spend time in the same place was very bizarre. To live in a different country, to live in Spain, was insane. I can tell you now, I’ve learned exactly no extra Spanish words that I knew when I got there.”

On Getting Bigger Since WrestleMania 42

“I have gotten bigger since the last time you saw me. I believe I was around 275 prior to Mania. … Wasn’t intentional. I’ve been doing all the right things. I was in Barcelona for a few months. I came back and really dialed in the diet. I upped my cardio. I discovered the assault bike, which is the worst thing in the world and the best thing in the world. But that cardio was through the roof, and I figured, okay, I’m probably going to lean up, but that’s fine. You get leaner, you generally look bigger on camera, and I somehow gained 10 pounds of muscle. I’m 285. I’m the only man in the wrestling world where they under-exaggerate.”

On Whether It’s Because He’s Prepping To Return to WWE

“No, I just like to look good. Obviously, I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel physically great. I’m sure you saw the clip that was out there when I was running the ropes. I was just rolling around the ring at Miro’s school, Rusev; you’re very welcome. It’s here in Nashville, and my buddy was like, I’ve never seen anybody hit the ropes so fast because he’s not seen Bron Breaker, the only other man that’s faster than me. He got a little clip, a 15-second clip, and it blew up online. I think over 8 million views, so people seem to be excited about the idea that I’m coming back to wrestling, but I’m just seeing what happens right now. I’m enjoying myself. Hollywood Drew is jumping from project to project, and when the time is right, WWE is home.”

Drew McIntyre recently said he’s still been training in the ring despite focusing on his acting work this year. He also appears in Agent of Shadows, which debuts on ReelShort on October 23.