The wrestling world erupted in laughter and disbelief this week after WWE superstar Drew McIntyre made a stunning revelation during a candid interview that peeled back the curtain on one of the strangest “what ifs” in wrestling history. Before he became the rugged, kilt-wearing Scottish warrior we know today — before the world titles, the Claymores, and the redemption arc that defined an era — McIntyre was nearly repackaged as a character so bizarre it’s hard to imagine: “Runway Man.”
Yes, you read that right. The same Drew McIntyre who went on to carry WWE through the pandemic era as the fearless, fire-eyed face of the company was almost introduced to fans as a preening, fashion-obsessed model strutting down the entrance ramp in designer clothes and sunglasses.
And according to Drew himself, it almost happened.
The Forgotten Pitch That Nearly Changed Everything
During the interview on The Bump, McIntyre couldn’t help but burst into laughter as he recalled one of the strangest meetings of his early WWE career. “John Laurinaitis pulled me aside one day,” he said, still grinning at the memory. “He said, ‘We’re thinking about giving you a new direction — something stylish, something flashy.’ Then he paused and said, ‘You’ll be… Runway Man.’ I thought it was a joke.”
But it wasn’t.
As Drew explained, the concept was fully formed — complete with sketches, promo ideas, and wardrobe plans. WWE’s creative team had apparently envisioned him as a “European fashion model who strutted to the ring like he owned the catwalk,” wearing luxury suits and showing off his physique between poses. The idea was meant to contrast with the rougher, more rugged characters on the roster at the time.
McIntyre chuckled as he recalled his internal reaction: “I was this tall, skinny kid from Scotland with a bad haircut and a cheap suit from Marks & Spencer. And they wanted me to act like a supermodel? I thought, ‘That’s it. I’m finished before I’ve started.’”
The “Runway Man” Era That Never Was
The proposed gimmick — now infamous among fans who can’t stop talking about it — would have featured McIntyre as a narcissistic heel obsessed with style, self-image, and public adoration. Early creative notes, according to McIntyre, even included the idea of him having a personal stylist accompany him to the ring and holding fashion “interventions” for his opponents.
“One idea was for me to bring a mirror to ringside and critique my opponent’s ring gear mid-match,” McIntyre laughed. “Another was that I’d win by ‘disqualifying’ anyone who clashed with my sense of style. I mean, I can’t make this up.”
He went on to admit that while the idea made him panic at first, he didn’t dare challenge WWE management back then. “I was just a kid trying to survive,” he said. “You don’t say no to anything when you’re 22 and the office has an idea for you.”
Fortunately for McIntyre — and for every fan who loves his fierce warrior persona — the “Runway Man” concept never made it past the brainstorming stage. Shortly after, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon saw McIntyre in a live tryout and famously dubbed him “The Chosen One,” giving him a completely different trajectory.
From “Runway” to “Redemption”
It’s hard to imagine how differently things could have gone if Drew had been forced into that gimmick. Instead of the intense Scottish brawler who became WWE Champion and symbolized perseverance, fans might have been introduced to a character more fitting for a 1980s parody than a modern powerhouse.
“Looking back, maybe it could’ve been funny for a week or two,” Drew joked. “But I don’t think people would’ve taken me seriously after that. I was supposed to be the next big thing, and they wanted me to be Zoolander with abs!”
The audience, both live and online, exploded with laughter as clips from the interview went viral. Within hours, #RunwayMan was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with fans flooding timelines with hilarious photoshopped images of McIntyre in glittery jackets, fur coats, and high-fashion sunglasses.
One viral meme featured McIntyre holding his WWE Championship while striking a catwalk pose with the caption: “From Runway to the Claymore.” Another imagined him facing Seth Rollins in a “Fashion vs. Passion” match at WrestleMania.
Even McIntyre himself got in on the fun, tweeting: “Somewhere in the multiverse, Runway Man just won the Intercontinental Title with a hairdryer.”
The Fans’ Reaction: Laughter and Gratitude
While most fans found the story hilarious, many also expressed gratitude that McIntyre’s true character was allowed to shine. “Runway Man would’ve buried his career,” one fan wrote. “Instead, we got one of the best redemption stories in WWE history.”
Another added, “Imagine the guy who beat Brock Lesnar walking down the ramp in a Gucci jacket. Thank God we got the Scottish Warrior instead.”
On Reddit, users compared it to other infamously bad WWE gimmicks that never saw the light of day — like Mordecai, The Goon, or The Shockmaster. “This could’ve been on that list,” one comment read, “but instead it became one of wrestling’s funniest ‘what ifs.’”
The Man Behind the Warrior
Beyond the laughter, McIntyre’s story reveals something deeper — how close even the most successful superstars can come to disaster early in their careers. Before he became the man fans cheer today, Drew endured false starts, releases, reinventions, and reinforcements of character.
“I think about it all the time,” he admitted. “If they had gone through with that gimmick, maybe I wouldn’t have lasted a year. But instead, I got to fail, learn, and rebuild myself into something real.”
His journey from promising prospect to world champion is one of WWE’s most inspiring comeback stories. After being released in 2014, McIntyre rebuilt his career from the ground up — reinventing himself across independent circuits and eventually dominating in NXT before returning to the main roster to fulfill his destiny.
“Life’s funny,” he mused. “Sometimes the doors that close save you from walking into a room that would’ve destroyed you.”
Inside the Creative Chaos of WWE
The story also reignites conversation about WWE’s history of eccentric — and often questionable — character ideas. From “The Gobbledy Gooker” to “Max Moon,” fans know that the creative process inside the company has produced both gold and garbage over the decades.
“WWE has always been a mix of genius and madness,” McIntyre said. “For every Stone Cold, there’s a Runway Man waiting in the shadows.”
The crowd burst out laughing again. “Hey,” he continued, “maybe I could bring it back one day — just for a Halloween Battle Royal or something. I’ll show up in sequins, strike a pose, and then Claymore someone through the ramp. It’d be worth it.”
The fans cheered just imagining it.
A Legacy Built on Authenticity
At the end of the day, what makes McIntyre’s story so beloved is not just his humor, but his honesty. He’s never been afraid to poke fun at himself or reflect on how far he’s come.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “Even the bad ideas made me stronger. I learned what I’m not — and that’s just as important as knowing who you are.”
Today, McIntyre stands as one of the most respected veterans in the company, a locker room leader, and a symbol of perseverance. His authenticity — both in and out of character — has made him one of the most relatable champions in WWE history.
But somewhere deep down, the world can’t stop chuckling at the thought of what might have been.
Imagine it — Drew McIntyre, six-foot-five, gliding down the ramp to techno music, blowing kisses to the crowd before dramatically removing his jacket and announcing, “Fashion always wins.”
Instead, we got a man who carries a sword, fights like a storm, and commands respect across the globe.
And yet, as McIntyre himself put it with that trademark smirk, “Never say never. Maybe one day, the world will see Runway Man walk again — just for one night… before the Claymore kicks him straight back to the closet.”
