WrestleMania 36 saw the coronation of a champion a long time in the making.
A decade after being first anointed “The Chosen One” by none other than Vince McMahon himself, Drew McIntyre originally floundered in the WWE, and was released by 2014.
Upon his return in 2017, he soon climbed up the ranks of NXT and to the main roster.
He won the 2020 Royal Rumble, booking a huge main event match at WrestleMania 36 against Brock Lesnar.
However, this would not be the only match the Scot would wrestle in at that WrestleMania.
Drew McIntyre vs Big Show
After Drew McIntyre made history by beating Brock Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania 36, he became the first Briton to hold the WWE Championship.
This would usually be cause for celebration, but the Scot was not done yet.
After brushing aside Lesnar in under 5 minutes, Drew McIntyre was interrupted by The Big Show.
The former WWE, WCW and ECW Champion returned after months away from the product, crashing the main event of WrestleMania 36.
He soon challenged the new champion to a match for the world title, to which McIntyre immediately accepted.
Drew McIntyre vs Big Show was not a long match, and the Scot quick swatted away his first challenger, establishing himself as a tough fighting champion.
Whilst this match took place immediately after the WrestleMania main event, it was not broadcast on the night. Instead, it was shown the next night on Monday Night Raw.
McIntyre Found Out About It The Day Before WrestleMania
While WrestleMania 36 was not actually live, and was taped over the week prior due to COVID, this did not mean there were no last-minute surprises in store for the wrestlers.
After Drew McIntyre beat Brock Lesnar, he was greeted to an impromptu match with the Big Show. It was a big shock to the fans.
However, little did they know that it was a shock to Drew McIntyre too!
In fact, it was only the day before WrestleMania 36 was filmed that the new WWE Champion was told he was going to defend the title against Big Show in the “real” main event.
Speaking to Fightful, McIntyre revealed that the plan for the match was only revealed at the last moment.
He also told them that Big Show vs Drew McIntyre was booked as a way to establish him as champion, making the returning giant a “gatekeeper” for the new WWE Champion.
“I found out at the very last moment and when it was happening the next day. When they filmed, it was very close to the match with Brock, it very close to when it aired is when we put the match together and I liked it.
“We were establishing Drew McIntyre and what I was going to be as champion. I just defeated Brock Lesnar in five minutes and then the giant walks out, who has been around for a long time, kind of a gatekeeper to say, ‘I’m going to see what you’re really made of.’ I beat Brock Lesnar and the giant, two of them in one night.
“After that, everyone thinks about it, Drew McIntyre can realistically say, ‘I went into WrestleMania and beat Big Show and Brock Lesnar back to back within 20 minutes.'”