WWE comes to Glasgow next weekend with two big shows and although these will be the first of their kind in Scotland, there will be a good dose of nostalgia for many in what will surely be a raucous crowd.
Two-time WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, the local hero from Ayr, is undoubtedly the star of the show as he takes on Damian Priest, for the title he lost so dramatically at WrestleMania this year, in the showpiece event at this Saturday’s Clash in the Castle on the Hydro.
Mail Sport spoke exclusively to McIntyre this week and asked if he ever imagined he would get the chance to fight for a world title in front of such a home support when he first started his wrestling career.
“No, because things like this didn’t exist back then,” says the 39-year-old. “I dreamed of becoming WWE Champion and competing in the main event of WrestleMania. I did that and I won.
‘But the idea of fighting in Scotland was just nothing. This is the first time we have ever held a major PLE (Premium Live Event) in Scotland. I just never thought it would be a thing.
“It’s really cool to see WWE doing all these international shows now. But I still never thought it would be in Scotland.
Drew McIntyre is set to take on Damian Priest for the WWE Title at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow
The Scottish Warrior is determined to put on a show in the first PLE in his home country
McIntyre admits it will be an emotional experience when he walks out in front of his home crowd
‘When I got the word, “Hey, we’re actually going to do one of our big events in Scotland – it’s going to be in Glasgow”. Well, I spent four years at university there. That’s 30 minutes from where I come from in Ayr. I thought, “I don’t just want to be there, I’m going to make that thing the focus.”‘
Many children in Britain are said to have had similar dreams to McIntyre’s during their childhood. In the 80s and early 90s, wrestling, like so many US imports, was a world of magic and chaos for schoolchildren.
Supersized heroes like Hulk Hogan, the Macho Man Randy Savage, Andre the Giant and the Ultimate Warrior allowed imaginations to run wild as satellite television brought even more American culture into our living rooms and playgrounds.
Kids already pretended to be the Karate Kid, Teen Wolf or Maverick, or went on adventures with the Goonies or Marty McFly, picking their favorite ’80s movies from the local video store and playing them on repeat.
If you were lucky enough to have satellite television at the time – or like me, a friend was kind enough to record the shows on a VHS tape – you could also delve into the world of professional wrestling.
The athleticism and drama were captivating. The wrestlers were wild and awesome. And soon we all wanted to be them.
Of course, we didn’t dare attempt the Tombstone – the Undertaker’s finishing move, which saw his stricken opponent leave the ring in a body bag – but body slams and clotheslines were performed in the backyard, thankfully avoiding serious injury.
Now those kids are parents and just like the recent successful return of the game show Gladiators to British TV screens, wrestling is something that can be enjoyed from Gen X to Gen Alpha, and everyone in between.
And now the kids want to be Drew McIntyre. The Hydro prepares itself best…
“It’ll be mental,” McIntyre admitted. ‘I can’t even imagine how I’ll feel. I just have to keep myself together during my entrance, let alone the match itself.
‘I’ve had a few shows in Scotland for friends and family, but they weren’t televised.
‘The first Clash at the Castle took place in Wales and people had traveled from all over Britain and it was very emotional.
‘This time it’s actually in Scotland, it’s a PLE, it’s broadcast live around the world to millions of people. It’s going to be great, not just for myself but to showcase the Scottish fans.”
Friday Night SmackDown airs live from the Hydro Glasgow, Friday 14th June. Tune in to TNT Sports
Clash at the Castle: Scotland will be broadcast live from the Hydro Glasgow, Saturday 15 June. Tune in to the WWE Network and TNT Sports Box Office.