WWE reportedly almost had to change creative plans involving Drew McIntyre on Smackdown

As seen during the March 10th 2023 edition of WWE Smackdown, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus scored simultaneous pins in the fatal five-way match to determine Gunther’s challenger for the Intercontinental title at Wrestlemania 39. One referee counted McIntyre’s pin on LA Knight from the Claymore while another referee counted Sheamus’ pin on Xavier Woods from a brogue kick. McIntyre and Sheamus are scheduled to have a singles match on this coming Friday’s Smackdown.

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, McIntyre nearly missed the show which would have forced WWE to change creative plans. Johnson noted that according to sources, McIntyre was “extremely ill” last week and wasn’t actually cleared to wrestle until after he arrived at the arena and was examined by WWE’s medical team. Johnson also wrote the following…

“McIntyre, who worked all the live events post-Smackdown, has received a lot of respect for how hard he has worked for the company, even when under the weather or working banged up over the last year. He’s very much a locker room leader in that regard.”