Drew McIntyre inducted into Scotland's wrestling hall of fame

Before earning his laurels in the ring at WWE Clash at the Castle on Saturday, WWE superstar Drew McIntyre received some from Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren — an induction into Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame for Scotland.

McIntyre becomes the tenth inductee, and the first active wrestler, to be inducted.

The ceremony was held at Edmiston House, in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Excited and proud to welcome Drew back to Scotland and congratulate him his on his induction into The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame,” said Lord Provost McLaren. “Known on the WWE circuit as the Scottish Warrior, he’s the first wrestler, in his prime, to receive this honor. It’s also a fantastic first for Scotland, to be hosting his WWE Heavyweight title bout at Clash at the Castle. I’ll definitely be cheering for Drew – hoping he lifts the title at this sensational Glasgow showdown.”

McIntyre challenges Damien Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Also in attendance were World’s Strongest Man winner Tom Stoltman and WWE Superstar Piper Niven, as well as Rangers soccer legends Lee McCulloch and Mark Hateley.

Bradley Craig is the wrestling historian who founded of the Hall (and an occasional SlamWrestling.net contributor. Since its formation in 2015, The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame for Scotland has embarked on a mission to celebrate the most important contributors of the industry in its home nation. Previous inductees include “Wild” Ian Campbell, George Kidd, Andy Robin, Frank Cullen and a handful of other legendary stars from the history of pro wrestling in the country. Last year’s inductee, Rusty Blair (Carole Taylor), was the first female inductee.

Bradley Craig, wrestling historian and founder of the Hall, with Drew McIntyre and Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren on June 13, 2024, at Edmiston House in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Following the collapse of the old British wrestling circuit, it was incredibly hard for an aspiring Scottish talent to consider a career in wrestling. However, Drew was determined to realize his ambition and spent countless hours travelling across the country to learn how to wrestle. His dedication paid off, and he was quickly established as one of the top talents in the country,” said Craig in a press release. “Drew’s greatest attribute is his capacity to learn and continuously improve. Across his career, he has adapted to changes in the professional wrestling industry and reinvented himself. As a result, he is now considered one of the greatest talents in the world. But he has also shared his learnings to teach a new generation of Scottish stars. His efforts helped to revitalize a dying industry and turn it into a thriving circuit.”

The release also detailed McIntyre’s early days:

Growing up in Annpit Road, young Andrew McLean Galloway IV first discovered televised professional wrestling as a child. Quickly becoming a fan of the sport, Drew soon wished to pursue his interest as a career and sought to find a wrestling school where he could learn the art of ringcraft, even though the domestic grappling circuit had collapsed in previous years. As there were no reputable camps at the time in Scotland, 15-year-old Galloway would travel to Portsmouth, enlisting in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance training academy. After making friends with some other likeminded hopefuls, Drew would take his somewhat limited ring knowledge back to Scotland and helped to establish a training group which rotated between Falkirk, East Kilbride, and Rutherglen.

Within a year, Drew Galloway made his debut in a match in Linwood, near Glasgow, against an opponent named Conscience. Developing an early narcissistic persona dubbed ‘Thee’ Drew Galloway, he became one of the rising stars in a fledgling promotion called British Championship Wrestling while studying a degree in Criminology at Glasgow Caledonian University. The upstart BCW promotion was pioneering a resurgence in the industry within Scotland, and this led to similar outfits being established, including Insane Championship Wrestling in Glasgow. Drew also sought further experience in front of live crowds for All Star Promotions, which promoted shows at Butlin’s holiday camps, and he went on to tour with Irish Whip Wrestling in 2006.

After impressing local audiences due to the calibre of his performances and having secured several championships across the circuit, Galloway would attend a try-out for the global touring brand World Wrestling Entertainment. A second audition the following April proved to be more successful, and he was subsequently offered a contract with the worldwide leader in sports entertainment. Upon signing, Galloway was sent to Louisville, Kentucky where he could refine his skills at Ohio Valley Wrestling in preparation for his eventual arrival in WWE.

Drew McIntyre and Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren on June 13, 2024, at Edmiston House in Glasgow, Scotland.

Craig is a historian, but also a fan of McIntyre — especially as a person.

“With few exceptions, the most successful Scottish wrestlers from previous generations were mainly gifted lightweights or middleweights,” said Craig, who also reviewed McIntyre’s autobiography for this site. “Drew is the first homegrown talent to possess the charisma, ring skills and superstar aura which has allowed him to achieve success and fame on a truly global level as one of the premier heavyweights in the game. He is a proud Scot but hasn’t relied on his nationality to create an engaging persona, as he is so relatable to audiences across the world.”

Bradley Craig, wrestling historian and founder of The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame for Scotland with Piper Niven on June 13, 2024, at Edmiston House in Glasgow, Scotland.

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