Drew McIntyre’s WWE Absence Explained

Mystery solved on one of WWE’s biggest missing names. Former Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has been absent from both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown in the weeks since his Unsanctioned Match loss to Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, and fans had been left to speculate about whether the disappearance was creative, contractual, or something else entirely. According to a new report from PWInsider, the answer is “something else.”

McIntyre is not being held off TV due to a lack of plans for Backlash 2026. The Scottish Warrior is simply working — just not for WWE at the moment. PWInsider reports that McIntyre is back home in Scotland filming the remainder of his scenes for the upcoming Highlander reboot, which is shooting on location across the U.K. With WWE’s go-home build to Backlash on May 9 already underway, his Hollywood schedule has effectively kept him off WWE television.

McIntyre’s casting in the film was first reported last year. He has been tapped to play Angus, the older brother of franchise lead character Connor MacLeod. Henry Cavill, of The Witcher and Man of Steel fame, is starring in the lead role of Connor MacLeod, with the project being directed by Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame. The reboot has been in development for several years and finally moved into active production in 2025.

McIntyre is in good company on set. Fellow former WWE World Champion Batista has also been cast in the film, continuing his post-wrestling acting career that has included roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Dune, and Knives Out: Glass Onion. Rounding out the cast are Hollywood heavy hitters Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan, and Djimon Hounsou — a lineup that signals just how serious the studio is about resetting one of the most beloved fantasy-action franchises of the 1980s.

For McIntyre, the timing actually works in WWE’s favor in the long run. Wrapping his film commitments now leaves the door open for a potentially explosive return — possibly aimed squarely at Jacob Fatu, depending on how the Backlash main event between Fatu and Roman Reigns shakes out. There has been no official word from WWE on when McIntyre is expected back on programming.