Drew McIntyre Reflects on His Epic Feud With CM Punk, Reveals Who Came Up With ‘I Prayed for This and It Happened’ Line

During a recent interview with Insight with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre spoke about his career, his epic feud with CM Punk from 2024, and who his biggest rival was outside of his feud with Punk. He also spoke about his iconic line during his feud with Punk, “I prayed for this, and it happened,” which became a viral meme.

Additionally, McIntyre revealed who came up with the memorable line during the feud. Below are some highlights from Insight:

Drew McIntyre on His Biggest Feud Other Than CM Punk

“I had a few. Sheamus and I have been going at it since before we were both signed. The biggest feud in Europe, the only little television show that existed in Europe at the time, Irish Whip Wrestling. We were the big program. I had a faction, the Foreign Legion, with Pierre Marceau; he was in NXT. I can’t quite remember what his name was there, Marcus Louis maybe? Wade Barrett was my heavy. Right through to coming to America, kind of like the movie, but not at all actually [laughs]. Then eventually WWE getting the chance to be on screen together, and especially during the pandemic, we had a chance to really have some good matches, and then the Donnybrook when we got the fans back.

“There was one particular match they played the build-up video and showed our entire history together because we have so many pictures from over 20 years of history, and we wanted to tell more of the story. That’s the one thing I wish we got to do. It’s never over til it’s over, of course, but I wish we had a chance to tell that story a little more. Then you’ve got people like Seth and I, professional rivals. It’s not personal like that idiot prick Punk. It’s more who believes they’re the better man and a better representative on top. Roman, my kryptonite, still haven’t defeated to this day. We got to get him before it’s all said and done. Him and his stupid family. Yeah, I’d say those are the top ones: Sheamus, Roman, Seth. Someone will probably point one out to me, and I’ll be like ah, them too.”

On Still Not Liking CM Punk

“No. I just love the whole act. He’s very, very convincing, and he believes it himself. I mean, he does some acting stuff. I haven’t watched it because I don’t care. I believe he’d be bad at it because the only person he’s truly good at playing is CM Punk, and convincing everybody he is this great guy. These Charles Manson-like qualities, I’ve talked about it before, where he just convinces everyone he’s like this really nice guy. Cares so much about everyone around him. He’s not. It’s all for him. He wants everyone to tell him how great he is all the time. Just go on the internet. I have a criminology degree.

“You don’t even need one. Use Google. Use the AI apps, Grok or ChatGPT, and type in Drew McIntyre, for just an example, character witness reports. Nice guy, lovely guy, one of the nicest guys in wrestling. That’s what it’ll tell you because it’s true. And I’m modest. CM Punk, terrible human being. Story after story after story of what a genuinely horrible person he is! I only told the truth again, but the crowd were cheering for him. Am I the bad guy, or did they turn on the guy that was there for them during the worst of times? Is the audience the bad person? Am I part of a dysfunctional relationship, an abusive relationship, and is the audience the bad guy?”

On When He Realized ‘I Prayed For This and It Happened’ Became a Meme

“I knew talking to Triple H during the day that this is going to be so good. I had an idea and it was too much. It would have offended a lot of people, which I’m very good at. He helped me reel it back, and then Hunter himself came out with the line, which I ended up using because I had such an extreme version, and he dialed it back and the way he said it and the cadence of how it’s to be said. He said it like that, and I got so excited. He’s obviously a savant when it comes to this business. Sometimes though he comes out with [things]; I went, how do you think of that? But it was like, that is genius, and oh my god, that is going to be so good. I know as a fan, I would lose my mind. Didn’t think I’d be seeing it to this day for everything, no matter what. It’s sports, it’s outside of wrestling, it’s constantly me pointing, ‘I prayed for this, and it happened.’

“But I knew in that moment when Hunter [Triple H] delivered the line back to me by toning me down a little bit. I went, wow, that is genius. Because I’m going to use that exact tone. The promo itself, I was being sympathetic, I believe, because Punk had got injured, and I understand what it’s like to have things taken away from me, and I’ve been injured before, and I’ve lost in my life in the ring and out of the ring, and I can get real personal. But I hate that son of a bitch, and I’m going to say it in the exact same tone all the way through till people go, wait, what? His face goes, what? And I drop his ass. So yeah, that’s cool. I mean, those promos, that feud, they voted it the best feud of the 2020s.”

Drew McIntyre has been off WWE programming since losing to Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42. He’s recently been focusing on his acting work, as he’s set to appear in Highlander opposite Henry Cavill. He’ll also appear in The Last Druid with Russell Crowe.