Drew McIntyre is finally speaking out about being swapped out of John Cenas retirement tour and hes not dwelling on what could have been. After Cena revealed on No-Contest Wrestling with OShea Jackson Jr. and TJ Henderson that McIntyre was originally scheduled to face him at WWE Crown Jewel 2025 before plans pivoted to AJ Styles, Drew has now responded publicly. Speaking to SHAK Wrestling on February 23, 2026, McIntyre was asked directly what went through his mind when he found out he was no longer facing Cena on that stage. McIntyre made it clear he understood why WWE shifted course. Cena had previously admitted that fan reaction and internal data points influenced the decision to pivot away from Drew and go with Styles instead. While some might expect frustration over missing a marquee match during Cenas farewell run, McIntyre took a different tone. He acknowledged the what if factor but quickly shut it down. He also suggested he was aware enough of the situation behind the scenes but stayed focused on his own path. In the end, Drew sees the bigger picture. Cena ultimately faced AJ Styles at Crown Jewel before later losing his official retirement match to GUNTHER in December 2025. But as far as McIntyre is concerned, missing that moment didnt derail his momentum especially with championship gold around his waist. Do you think WWE made the right call pivoting to AJ Styles instead of Drew McIntyre for John Cenas Crown Jewel match? Drop your thoughts below and let us know. Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication. G Add as a preferred source on Google
