WrestleMania 41 Match Preview: Damian Priest vs Drew McIntyre

Just one year ago, Drew McIntyre conquered Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. McIntyre’s reign lasted just five minutes before he was blindsided by CM Punk and his opponent for this year, Damien Priest. Priest made his way down and took that title away from McIntyre.

Many overlook that Priest was the man who walked away from WrestleMania 40 with McIntyre’s championship and only remember the feud with Punk that ensued. McIntyre never forgot. 

Eliminations and Blindside Attacks 

On February 1st, 2025 at the Royal Rumble, Drew McIntyre was eliminated quietly by Damian Priest, sparking this feud. Since that evening, each man has escalated the rivalry in their special way. Priest has gotten the better of McIntyre on two occasions, keeping him out of the main event of WrestleMania 41. 

Tensions had been boiling between the two men and escalated to a new level on March 28th when Damian Priest put McIntyre through the windshield of a car, leading to McIntyre having to wear an eye patch. Following that incident, McIntyre attacked Priest on April 11th as he was walking to the ring.

After a vicious assault and leaving Priest bloodied, McIntyre removed his eye patch, showing that he was healed and ready for WrestleMania. With all the carnage that has ensued from this build, the WWE had no option but to make this a Sin City Street Fight. 

But who walks away with the victory Sunday? Each man has had a meteoric rise to the top this year, but only one can leave Las Vegas the winner. 

The Scottish Warrior

Drew McIntyre had a phenomenal 2024 and has stayed hot in the early months of 2025. McIntyre carried his weight in a heated rivalry with CM Punk throughout 2024, culminating in a blood-stained match at Bad Blood inside Hell in a Cell. Though he will not be competing for a championship at WrestleMania this year, he has put himself in a position to be the most talked-about superstar after the weekend.  

The Scottish Warrior was robbed of what should have been his crowning achievement, winning the WWE Championship, in 2020 due to the pandemic. McIntyre’s entire reign was trapped inside the Thunderdome for an audience of computer screens and fellow performers. Coming out of this street fight, McIntyre will put his name back in the mix at the top of the card. 

All Rise

Post WrestleMania 40, Damian Priest found himself with the World Heavyweight Championship and leading The Judgement Day. Priest carried that championship for 118 days before being dethroned by Gunther. Not only was Priest beaten by Gunther that night, but he was also betrayed by Finn Balor, marking his exit from The Judgement Day. 

Damian Priest has been a lone wolf since leaving The Judgement Day after SummerSlam. Priest has thrived in this role and set himself apart from the other singles stars on the SmackDown roster. If Priest walks away victorious, he would once again put himself in a main event contender’s role. 

The Bottom Line of Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre should walk away from this Sin City Street Fight as the winner. It is McIntyre’s time for the WrestleMania victory he has deserved since 2020.

This match could steal the show on a stacked Sunday night card. I believe we will see this match as the launch point for a hot 2025 for Drew McIntyre. 

Though many will argue that the Reigns, Rollins, and Punk triple threat will give us our number one contender for the WWE Championship. However, I would argue that the winner of that match should immediately focus on the World Heavyweight Championship. McIntyre should walk away from Sunday as the first contender for either Cody Rhodes or John Cena post-WrestleMania.