Drew McIntyre Faces Backlash and a Challenger: Bully Ray Questions WWE's Handling as Trick Williams Declares ‘I’m Coming for Your Spot’
WWE’s Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre finds himself at the center of two emerging storylines this week: a former star publicly bewildered by how the company is using him, and a rising SmackDown contender openly declaring he wants McIntyre’s place at the top. The developments follow McIntyre’s dramatic world title win in Berlin and a tense SmackDown confrontation on Feb. 6 (ET).
Bully Ray voices confusion over WWE’s treatment of the champion
WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has publicly questioned the creative direction surrounding McIntyre, calling out what he sees as mixed signals from management. Ray highlighted the oddity of a company seemingly undermining a champion and the show he represents, pointing to recent booking choices that have left fans and insiders scratching their heads. He singled out a recent on-screen promo and the handling of McIntyre’s title reign as examples that don’t make sense from a storytelling standpoint.
That criticism lands against a backdrop of concrete highs for McIntyre. At the start of 2026 he captured the world title in Berlin with a surprising win over Cody Rhodes, an achievement that many expected would cement his position at the top. McIntyre then played a pivotal role during the company’s royal brawl staged in Saudi Arabia, eliminating Rhodes in a sequence that further escalated their rivalry. The two are widely anticipated to clash again at WrestleMania 42 in the spring, making Ray’s concerns about how the champion and the championship are being presented even more pointed.
Frustration with creative and a new challenger on SmackDown
The momentum from McIntyre’s return to the top has not come without internal friction. McIntyre is said to have been frustrated with creative directions last year, repeatedly pressing management for opportunities he felt he had earned—especially after a standout 2024 that included a high-profile feud. Frustration reportedly grew as other company priorities dominated creative attention, leaving McIntyre feeling boxed out even as he maintained a professional approach and pushed his body to deliver at a high level.
That simmering tension intersects with an immediate on-screen threat. On the Feb. 6 (ET) edition of SmackDown, rising star Trick Williams interrupted McIntyre and made plain that his ambitions target the champion personally—though Williams framed the challenge as positional rather than personal. Williams told media he respects McIntyre as an “alpha” competitor, but added that respect doesn’t preclude competition: he wants McIntyre’s spot.
Williams arrives with momentum; he’s picked up notable wins over established opponents and has been positioning himself as a contender since declaring himself a main-roster free agent. Even after falling short in a recent fatal four-way on Jan. 24 (ET), Williams’ comments suggest his WrestleMania aims remain intact and that he’s willing to force a title picture reshuffle to get there.
What’s next for McIntyre—stability or upheaval?
The champion’s immediate landscape is tense. On one front, a veteran voice inside the industry is openly critical of how the company is managing his star, questioning decisions that could undercut the title’s prestige and SmackDown’s standing. On the other, a hungry challenger is pushing to accelerate his rise rather than wait in line.
McIntyre’s Berlin victory and his role in the Saudi Arabia royal brawl give him tangible momentum and storyline leverage, but the combination of backstage frustration with creative and an ambitious new threat on the same brand means his reign could face tests on multiple levels in the weeks ahead. With a likely WrestleMania rematch against Cody Rhodes on the horizon and Williams vocal about climbing to the top, the champion’s next moves will be watched closely by fans and critics alike.
