Drew McIntyre’s frustration following his elimination from the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble match wasn’t just about losing a WrestleMania opportunity, but it was also fueled by an overlooked moment early into the match.
Entering at No. 17, McIntyre, the winner of the 2020 Rumble, lasted nearly 27 minutes but failed to secure any eliminations before being tossed out by Damian Priest. While some initially believed LA Knight’s collision with Priest during the elimination caused McIntyre’s anger, reports suggest the issue occurred earlier.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer, McIntyre was visibly furious backstage, loudly venting his frustration over LA Knight allegedly performing unplanned moves that disrupted the match flow. The delay affected the timing of McIntyre’s elimination, forcing a mid-match adjustment. Multiple people reportedly shared McIntyre’s frustration, making his reaction a significant backstage incident rather than a scripted storyline.
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This situation has raised questions about McIntyre's direction going forward and the nature of his relationship with WWE. Sportskeeda's Dr. Chris Featherstone reports that frustrations with McIntyre have "cooled off" since the Rumble and things are "moving forward" between the Scottish Warrior and WWE.
As for Knight, it is yet to be known whether he will face any consequence for perfoming unplanned moves and disrupting the flow of the Men's Royal Rumble match. While neither man was set to win the 30-Man contest, this incident has cast a shadow over WWE's first PLE of 2025.
