Drew's return to ICW. Spending years as a jobber in WWE, McIntyre was released by the company in 2014. He decided to return to the independent scene, and his first stop back was his home promotion, ICW. When Drew's friend, Jack Jester (then ICW Champion), was attacked, the lights went out in the arena. When they came back on, a man in a hood was in the ring. The hood came off, revealing Drew Galloway, who proceeded to kick the collective asses of the group attacking Jester. Then Drew attacked Jester, put him through a table, and cut an amazing promo about how he wanted to better the wrestling industry, and he was going to do it through the indies, ICW being his main goal. It brought attention to both Galloway and ICW itself, during a time when the British wrestling scene was beginning to make a comeback. Turned out pretty well for all parties involved.
Galloway defeating Chris Hero at EVOLVE 31. One of Galloway's first big matches since his WWE release, and he proved himself to be a guy that the independent scene should keep an eye on.
Related to the two above, Galloway would win the ICW title around the same time. He would defend both titles outside of both promotions and their countries of origin, allowing them to be classified as World Heavyweight titles. Not only that, but he would hold onto both belts for the better part of a year (with his ICW World Championship reign lasting over a year.) It helped legitimatize Galloway as a force to be reckoned with.
Galloway winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. A year prior, Galloway debuted for TNA and quickly made a name for himself. He would win an opportunity to challenge then champion Ethan Carter III at TNA's biggest show, Bound for Glory. however, he also won a spot in the match for Matt Hardy, turning it into a triple threat match which Hardy won by pinning him. It wouldn't be until January 2016 that he gained a chance at the title again after winning a World title match contract in the Feast or Fired match. Hardy and EC3 swapped roles with Matt becoming a heel. After Hardy had other people attack his competition, Galloway would cash in his contract and won, winning yet another world title.
Becoming the NXT Champion at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III. Within months of re-signing with WWE and going to their NXT brand, McIntyre quickly made his way to the main event, earning a chance to face Bobby Roode. While it would be known for what happened after thematch, it can't be ignored how different Drew was looked by both fans and WWE themselves with this win.
His match against Kurt Angle on the 11/5/18 edition of RAW. While Kurt got in a good amount of offense, Drew completely demolished Angle towards the end, using both of Angle's finishing moves on him, and making Kurt submit to the ankle lock.
At the 2020 Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar is eliminating guys with ease and it looks like Drew will be just another victim. But thanks to Ricochet hitting a low blow, Drew shocks the world by eliminating the Beast with a Claymore! He then tops that by last throwing out Roman Reigns to win the Rumble itself. The only thing that got more of a pop that night was none other than Edge returning to the ring after nine years in forced retirement — and even then, Edge is the same man who once went on the record and said Drew should main event a WrestleMania.
WrestleMania 36: Drew gets his match against Lesnar in the main event of night two. Lesnar takes McIntyre to Suplex City, but the Scottish Terminator continues to fight back and delivers a Claymore. Brock drops the big Scot with an F-5, only for Drew to not only be one of the few men to kick out of the move, but the only man to kick out atone. Lesnar continues to hit F-5 after F-5, but Drew refuses to stay down. Finally, Drew counters another F-5 attempt and delivers three consecutive Claymores to the Beast, allowing him to get the pin and finally have his Awesome Momentof Crowning, becoming WWE Champion for the first time in his career and fulfilling Vince McMahon's prophecy after a decade.
6/7/21 edition of RAW. After Bobby Lashley incessantly mocked him, he shuts him up by pulling out his sword and slicing a table in half.
After interrupting Drew in a promo on the 8/15/22 episode of Raw, Kevin Owens made jokes about McIntyre thinking he's in medieval times and not knowing who he is, before declaring his intention to return to his Prizefighter form and go after every championship in the company, warning Drew that whoever won at Clash at the Castle between him and Roman Reigns, he intended to come for them next. While this was awesome in its own right for Kevin, the Scotsman retorted with a deep, scathing, passionate screed that sums up everything we need to know about McIntyre's journey from “Chosen One” to “Scottish Warrior” and just how dangerous he really is, with a finishing note that simply couldn’t be done under Vince McMahon's watch.
“I know exactly who the hell I am! Someone recently called me ‘The Chosen One!’ I was the ‘Chosen One’ fifteen years ago, THEN I GOT FIRED! Then I head to work my ass off, EARN my way back to this company! I didn't call WWE, THEY CALLED ME! And I've worked my ass off every day since! I'm a two-time Champion! I beat Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Randy Orton— EVERYONE THAT'S STOOD IN MY PATH! Don't you DARE look me in the eye and pull that BS again! Now I think it's time for Owens and McIntyre to stop talking! I don’t care if you’re a ‘prizefighter’, a ‘sports entertainer’, or a ‘superstar’! We’re wrestlers in a wrestling ring! LET’S JUST FREAKIN’ WRESTLE!!!!”
Everything about his championship match against Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle 2022. While he didn't win, it was unquestionably Drew McIntyre's night through and through. For starters, he made his entrance to "Broken Dreams" for the first time since his return, earning a MASSIVE pop from the Welsh crowd, who sang along with the lyrics. Said crowd would continue to cheer and chant for McIntyre (and viciously boo Reigns) the entire match, almost never letting up. He even had Reigns dead to rights for the pin, only failing to capture the victory because a debuting Solo Sikoa took out the referee. Even after his defeat, the crowd showered him with adoration, celebrating a valiant fight and one of the best matches of his career.
At WrestleMania 39, Drew would compete against Gunther and Sheamus in a glorious Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship, and while he failed to recapture the IC championship, he ended up earning himself his very first 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer.
Spending years as a jobber in WWE, McIntyre was released by the company in 2014. He decided to return to the independent scene, and his first stop back was his home promotion, ICW. When Drew's friend, Jack Jester (then ICW Champion), was attacked, the lights went out in the arena. When they came back on, a man in a hood was in the ring. The hood came off, revealing Drew Galloway, who proceeded to kick the collective asses of the group attacking Jester. Then Drew attacked Jester, put him through a table, and cut an amazing promo about how he wanted to better the wrestling industry, and he was going to do it through the indies, ICW being his main goal. It brought attention to both Galloway and ICW itself, during a time when the British wrestling scene was beginning to make a comeback. Turned out pretty well for all parties involved.