RF Video Shoot Interview with Drew Galloway (Drew McIntyre)

This was filmed on November 14th, 2014

Rob Feinstein is the host

It runs at one hour and forty-three minutes long

Drew talks about being a fan ever since he was a kid and since that time wanted to be a wrestler. His favorites were Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart. He talks about going to the Rebellion PPV as well as the first RAW and Smackdown tapings.

He talks about loving Scotland and its rich heritage, which he appreciated more when he moved to America when he was signed by WWE at age 21.

He went to the FWA school when he was 15. He trained for about a year until his first match. His first match for a company he believed was called Scottish Championship Wrestling. He jokes about looking like a “Hardy Boy” with a fishnet top.

After that he wrestled for British Championship Wrestling. He said the standouts at the time where Wolfgang, Lionheart, Red Lightning, and now they are wrestling for ICW. Drew said he kept wanting to improve so focused on himself and wanted to get into WWE.

Drew met Sheamus in Ireland and the two feuded and became friends in the process. Drew said Sheamus and himself would watch their matches and critique themselves and watch other matches. Drew loves Sheamus outside of the ring.

On ICW, Drew said when it first stared that promoter Mark Dallas wanted something different than the typical family-friendly shows. Today, Drew said the company has great fanbase and how his return to ICW (from WWE) and appearance on Chris Jericho’s podcast really led to his popularity on the Independent scene.

Drew talked about how wrestling was his job since a teen but he did get a degree in criminology so he does have something to fall back on if wrestling did not work out, which was what he agreed to with his parents when asking them permission to start wrestling.

He got a WWE tryout after sending photos and videos to Mike Bucci. Sheamus, Wade Barrett, and Rob Terry along with a few others got a tryout before a TV taping. He talks about being an extra that day and how bad he feels for them now as its nervous. Arn Anderson told Drew and Sheamus to get into the ring and they got some good feedback then Drew got back in with Wade Barrett with John Laurinaitis now watching. Drew knocked out Barrett’s tooth but they were really impressed with him and they all ended up getting signed.

Drew moved to Louisville as part of OVW. He jokes about people thinking Scotland is weird then go to Louisville. Drew said his part of Scotland was far more industrialized.

He liked OVW and it was the first proper training facility he had been to but only stayed for a few classes as he was on the road after a week or two.

Drew jokes about how they main thing stressed is facing the hard camera but the style in the ring was not that much different than what he was doing in Europe.

When asked about why he was brought up with David Taylor and quickly went away, Drew said he was never told of any plans and thinks it was a case of the company needing someone and the writers happened to be in OVW when he first arrived. Drew said Taylor is a funny guy but jokes he probably drove him crazy by asking ridiculous questions while they were on the road.

He is now asked about a dark match against the Nasty Boys. Drew said everyone backstage was watching from the curtain and monitor and said the match could have went better with Feinstein adding the match went long and cut into the TV taping. Drew then said the Nasty Boys were also funny guys.

Back to OVW, Drew puts over Danny Davis as being a great guy. Feinstein asks him about some of the talents with him there and said he knew Paul Burchill from training in the UK. Drew said Burchill could do standing shooting star presses when he first started.

When OVW closed down he went to FCW. Drew felt more comfortable in Florida and said it was more of his scene. Drew spent more time in FCW than in OVW. He puts over Steve Keirn, Norman Smiley, Billy Kidman, Tom Prichard, and Dusty Rhodes for their training. Drew said they thought him to wrestle more aggressively and how Dusty helped him feel more comfortable talking in front of a camera.

On the talents in FCW, Drew said he won the FCW title as they had a tournament when champion Joe Hennig (Curtis Axel) got sick. Before that he was a tag team champion with Stu Sanders (Wade Barrett) as The Empire.

Feinstein asks Drew about being told when he was going to be Vince McMahon’s “Chosen One.” Drew said he was never told about debuting on Smackdown as that character and actually found out when Vince cut the promo in the ring. Drew is asked about hearing or being told that he was really going to be the chosen one of the company. Drew just said he heard a lot of things but doesn’t pay much attention as you go crazy paying attention to everything said. Drew was asked about jealously and said there was some but at the time was young and naive.

On the biggest mistakes guys make from being brought up from developmental, Drew said that it feels you are getting targeted but its not the case and you just go about your business and not let them see your “boo-boo” face. He adds its not like UFC and no one is looking at your wins and losses.

Drew said that Fit Finlay, Steve Regal, and The Undertaker were his mentors on the road and puts them over for giving honest feedback. Drew recalls Undertaker telling him to stop trying too hard and be a wrestler instead of playing one by planning out everything you do. Drew puts over Undertaker being the locker room leader and never traveled by himself but rather with anyone else.

When asked, Drew said that Vince is easy to approach and appreciates honesty. He puts over that many are too intimidated to approach but he was not however he did pick his spots and would not go in weekly to waste his time as he is a busy man.

Feinstein asks why Miz rubs people the wrong way. Drew says he is confident and loud so if that annoys you then you’ll have a problem then notes how he doesn’t let things like that bother him.

Drew talks about his Intercontinental Title match against John Morrison and how hard they both worked. He also laughed at Morrison’s “Braveheart” parody and said he made Morrison bleed by headbutting a sword into his face. He said the picture of him with the belt was his legit reaction as he was amazed to hold the title in his hands for the first time.

On the angle of Vince having Teddy Long erases his losses, Drew claimed it got him real heat on the streets. Drew set out to have his character become a complete “dick’ without any redeeming qualities.

Feinstein asks Drew about his first time working WrestleMania and the schedule of the entire weekend. Drew said its awesome to meet the fans but also incredibly busy. He also talks if you are willing to listen to the fans you can find out what works and what does not with regards to your character.

Drew said his feud with Matt Hardy was created by the both of them. He said it started when during a match he stomped Matt’s head on the steps and Matt sold it so well to the point that Vince was on the headset telling people to stop the match.

He talks about feeling the heat from fans when running down Teddy Long and trying to stay in character as much as possible in real life without being a complete ass. Drew said he wished it kept longer as he said it was getting over.

Drew talks about having to go back to Scotland and get his visa renewed after the angle of Teddy Long “deporting” him from Smackdown. Drew said the process lasted a few weeks.

When asked about the angle of begging for his job back and if it hurt his character, Drew kind of gives a non answer before saying you need to add layers to your character.

He was shocked to hear he was going to team with Cody Rhodes and become champions. When asked if the company gave up on him as a singles act, Drew said he was excited for the opportunity to tag with Cody. And then when asked if he was disappointed with the short run as champions, Drew said once they got comfortable they decided to break them up. On Cody, Drew said he was a funny guy who kept them entertained on tours.

Drew had fun working with Kelly Kelly but said Vince did not want to turn Kelly heel as he saw here as the All-American girl.

On the Elimination Chamber match, Drew said the structure is brutal and does not have any give. He does have fun with gimmick matches and to be creative as possible and put over his moments with Edge.

Drew is asked about being moved over to RAW. He talks about liking being on the “flagship” show but the atmosphere was a lot more stressful and you would wait around until late afternoon when you found out about what you were going to be doing.

When asked if his morale suffered after being relegated to the secondary shows, Drew said he became more motivated to “kill it” whenever he went out on matches for “Superstars.” He puts over a match against Chris Masters that everyone raved about backstage but unfortunately it did not lead to anything. And if he went to creative to pitch ideas at this time, Drew said the company is mainly focused on the the top two angles and you have to remember that as he continues to not really say anything of value.

On going back to Smackdown, Drew said he had no idea why he was moved over then talks about how the losing streak he had worked at the end because he got him a match at WrestleMania.

Drew is asked about Rock coming back to wrestle Cena and if he saw it as taking away a spot from another wrestler who was wrestling all year. Drew said that he didn’t have a problem and that Rock was a global superstar who would bring in more people than anyone else on the roster. Drew said that Rock was nice to him.

He puts over Cena’s schedule and how hard he works at everything. Drew said that Cena is honest and not afraid to tell you anything. When asked if Cena “played politics,” Drew claimed he doesn’t know then puts over Cena’s length of time at the top.

Drew is now asked if he felt that politics backstage ever hurt his career and says he will never know and its unfortunate if people say things about him behind closed doors and maybe there was a period when he did not “endear” himself to others but he cannot take that back. Drew then goes on to add that there was a period where he was upset and stressed about things in life but if people buried him for that then its on them.

He now talks about wanting to be part of the show instead of being “happy to be there” and hanging around for a paycheck. Drew said that he even said he’d lose every week as long as they let him wrestle. When asked, Drew said some agents went to bat for him but the company did not see him as someone to build the company around.

Feinstein asks him about 3MB and when he found out about that creation. Drew said he thought he was going to be the “heater” of the group but right when it started he needed wrist surgery. He puts them over as great guys and considers them friends. On what made the gimmick work, Drew said they were not shy and willing to make fools of themselves. Drew said if you give it 100% the crowd will feel it and they know if you are half-assing things. On rumors that Ricardo was going to be added, Drew said he was on some house shows that Slater missed but nothing else came about.

When 3MB turned Alberto & Ricardo babyface, Drew said it was fun and considers Alberto one of his best friends.

Drew says the rise of Daniel Bryan in WWE had been brewing and totally organic. When asked if Bryan’s reactions forced WWE to push him, Drew says that WWE wants people to get over with the fans. He also talks about having a good match with Bryan on Superstars and everyone backstage knew he was great in the ring.

On Brock Lesnar beating down 3MB, Drew said Brock is an intense guy but “cool” and that Brock even pulled him aside and was surprised he was part of this (low card) faction then gave advice on how to force his opinion.

Drew is asked about The Shield and he puts them over, specifically Roman Reigns who he would build a company around due to his look and intensity.

He then talks about never just being happy to have a job and by the end it was hard to jump from being in the 3MB gimmick into anything else and the next logical step was a break from TV or in his case a “break” from the company.

Now he is asked about some of the guys on the roster. He liked CM Punk and was surprised to see him leave the company. Drew says that Del Rio doesn’t take “crap” from anyone and does not fake people. Feinstein prefaced by saying how Del Rio was considered difficult to get along with by others.

When asked about being cut by WWE and the online backlash, Drew said that the feedback online was incredible not just from the fans but also his peers that came out in support. Drew said he saw this release as a chance to go away and reinvent himself because he would never be taken seriously by WWE again otherwise. He also talks about being a kid in WWE and made mistakes along the way and could come back as an adult.

Drew thanks Jericho for the podcast appearance and others that put him over strong like Mick Foley, Steve Austin, and Tommy Dreamer.

His first Indy appearance post PPV was different as Drew never did the US Indy scene. He got booked by EVOLVE through Trent Baretta, a friend of his in WWE, who spoke with Gabe Sapolsky and Sal. Drew puts over Gabe for being a smart guy and that he suggested they piut the title on Drew the first night. Gabe was high on him after seeing the video of his return to ICW. Drew loves EVOLVE and all the different styles it encompasses.

Drew talks about getting time off now and not having a week off in close to eight years in WWE. He also thanks WWE for building his name and allowing him to wrestle elsewhere.

He talks about burnout of his personal life and how that effected him but now he is feeling better.

Drew then pictures how he can come back to WWE after his time away and they use all the footage of him in 3MB while saying he is now back to take over the world.

Regarding changes with Triple H & Stephanie taking over the company, Drew said that Vince still runs it but is seen around less than before. Drew then puts over Triple H for what he is doing with NXT and that he is learning from Vince. Drew said the biggest misconception of Triple H is that he is a malicious person as he’s just a businessman.

Drew puts over his match against Roderick Strong (EVOLVE 35) as his favorite since leaving WWE. Drew really puts over Strong as a talent. He also puts over ICW as the forefront of European wrestling then talks about EVOLVE deserving a bigger crowd while saying ICW has a rapid ECW-like fanbase.

Feinstein asks him about several talents. Drew puts over Jericho as being an awesome person and once again puts him over for the podcast appearance. He’s happy for Batista’s success and how he looked out for him a lot in WWE. Drew says that Dolph Ziggler is really talented but does not know why he isn’t pushed more while giving some non-answer as to why that is the case. He says that Santino is hilarious and legitimately tough. Drew said some of his best matches were against Christian and puts over his creativity. Drew said that Big Show is a funny guy and was friends with Jack Swagger. He jokes about Mike Knox’s ability then says that pretty much everyone was a “great dude.

When asked if his long-term goal was returning to WWE, Drew said “absolutely” and hopes to be back in a position were he can contribute and feel like he earns his money.

His dream WrestleMania match would be against Sheamus since they came up together in wrestling.

On the best rib he saw, Drew said he never did any himself then finally tells us a story. In FCW, Tom Prichard would pick someone to win the battle royal but tell a few other guys to eliminate them first and the person would get back into the ring and tossed out again. Backstage, Prichard would act upset with the person and the others would play along.

He closes by thanking the fans for believing and sticking with him as he says his current wrestling character his genuine. Drew promises by saying it will get bigger and better.

Final Thoughts: The best thing about this interview, actually the only good thing, was how Drew ended up accomplishing what he set out to do as he is now likely going to be in the main event this year at WrestleMania in a match against Brock Lesnar. I’m happy for him and look forward to the match. Plus, Drew’s run on the Independent scene was tremendous before re-signing with the company. His character in EVOLVE was tremendous.

However, when it came to this interview, Drew was terrible. I get wanting to not burn any bridges but you can certainly answer some questions. They’ve re-hired guys who voiced displeasure in the company before. Its safe to assume Drew did not want any mentions of his wife Tiffany (who went on to become Taryn Terrell in TNA) and how getting attacked by here in a domestic disturbance led the company to sour on him. I get that. However, once they talked about anything WWE, Drew gave wishy-washy answers and contradicted himself at times. Drew is far from a dumb guy and would almost smirk at times when giving some of his non-answers. You can also tell how well WWE coaches up their talent how to talk because Drew sounded like Seth Rollins and Corey Graves do when they are on WWE affiliated podcasts.

Overall, a largely terrible interview. Happy for Drew but when it comes to listening him talk about his career, I’ll be passing going forward.

Next shoot interview recap I will do a favorite Hall of Fame duo of the blog………………………….The Bella Twins.