WWE Champion Drew McIntyre was introduced as ‘The Chosen One,’ being handpicked by Vince McMahon and destined for greatness back in 2009. He would see decent success during his first run in WWE, where he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship and Tag Team Championships on two separate occasions.
However, it seems Drew McIntyre almost would have debuted under a completely different persona in WWE. McIntyre recently spoke on The Rich Eisen Show, where McIntyre revealed he was initially going to be known a male model called the Runway Man.
Thankfully, the gimmick was ultimately rejected, which McIntyre was undoubtedly relieved about.
“Yeah, I remember. I was about 260 at the time,” McIntyre recalled. “‘We got this great idea for ya Drew. You’re gonna be The Runway Man. You’re gonna come out on a runway. You’re gonna model all the greatest underpants. That’s gonna be you’re gimmick this model character,’ and all my dreams crashed before my very eyes, but I couldn’t register it on my face because it’s WWE. It’s this huge opportunity.
“I just nodded. ‘That’s a great idea.’ Eventually, I had to cut down to 260 to be a male model. So I lost about 25 pounds to get the abs in, looking like an Abercrombie and Fitch model. I had a shaved face at the time, so I look like a pretty boy.
I sat down with Vince McMahon. He asked me my opinion of the character. I said, ‘You know what sir, to get on television, I’ll make it work.’ He clearly saw I did not like it at all and said, ‘Just go out there and be yourself.’ And I already lost the 35 pounds. I have to gain this weight back somehow because I look like a male model, but I have to be a butt kicker. I’m glad that never saw the light of day though. Thank God!”
Is it true @DMcIntyreWWE's original gimmick had him as a male model?!@toojiggy asked the question and you won't believe the #WWE Champion's response:@wwe #RoyalRumble @VinceMcMahon @StephMcMahon @TripleH @WWESheamus @WolfgangYoung @JinderMahal pic.twitter.com/Ktz1NOgV7Q
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) February 1, 2021
“I just nodded. ‘That’s a great idea.’ Eventually, I had to cut down to 260 to be a male model. So I lost about 25 pounds to get the abs in, looking like an Abercrombie and Fitch model. I had a shaved face at the time, so I look like a pretty boy.
