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Colby Covington is a UFC fighter with a loud mouth, and Drew McIntyre is more than happy to shut him up in a fight. But that fight won’t be for McIntyre’s WWE championship.
Covington is rumored to have plans to transition his career from UFC to WWE in 2021. McIntyre didn’t mince words on Busted Open Radio when he said that these UFC fighters don’t deserve a shot at his WWE championship. Here’s a transcription of his response, per Fightful:
“People recognize the global reach of WWE. They understand it’s a huge platform and opportunity. Obviously, if you’ve got any sense, you’re going to go for the top dog. I heard what he said; David vs. Goliath, it wouldn’t be a sanctioned match for WWE. This is how I see it; in WWE, I beat Brock Lesnar in five minutes. I don’t know how Colby would do in a MMA fight with Lesnar. But in WWE, I beat him in five minutes. If he wants a bar fight, okay, I’m fine with that. Not for the title, only our superstars deserve a title shot. But I’m fine fighting anybody that’ll get more eyes on WWE...if you think I’ve never been in a fight, you’ve got another thing coming. If I’ve got to face him in a bar fight, that’s fine. I’ve got 100 pounds on the guy, I’ll knock him out, it’ll get some buzz. If he wants to fight, we’ll fight.”
These are interesting comments from McIntyre because WWE does have a tendency to give UFC fighters championship matches right out of the gate. Cain Velasquez received a shot at the WWE championship in his debut match for the promotion last year at Crown Jewel. Ronda Rousey’s debut match for WWE took place in April 2018 at WrestleMania 34, and her next televised match was for the Raw women’s championship in June. It doesn’t sound like these fighters fit McIntyre’s criteria for being deserving of any championship matches in WWE.
Do you agree with McIntyre’s stance on these UFC fighters who plan to move to WWE? Or should someone’s spot be determined by their star power, even if that star was created outside of pro wrestling?