WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre has revealed that he once pitched Vince McMahon an unusual WrestleMania storyline involving his signature sword, Angela, and a wrestler having their arm severed through special effects.
During an appearance on the INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet podcast, McIntyre discussed his frustration with carrying a sword to the ring without ever using it in a major storyline.
Although he had previously driven Angela into the wrestling ring and through a table belonging to Adam Pearce, McIntyre wanted to take the weapon’s involvement in his character to another level.
His proposed storyline was inspired by the 1998 war film Saving Private Ryan, which used practical effects to create realistic battlefield injuries. “I stuck it in the ring, and I stuck it in the table, Pearce’s table. But finally, I also pitched to the big man himself,” McIntyre recalled. “I was like, ‘Hey, you know Saving Private Ryan?’ Vince had never seen Saving Private Ryan, so I explained, you know, they get after you never saw Saving Private Ryan.”
McIntyre explained that he wanted to recreate a similar visual effect during a WrestleMania storyline by using a performer with a missing limb to simulate a sword attack. “He didn’t know what I was talking about, but also I speak fast when I’m excited. Half the time, he’s like, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, sure Drew.’”
The Scottish star then detailed the proposed sequence, which would have involved transitioning from a live confrontation into a prerecorded backstage segment. “But I was like, in Saving Private Ryan, they use actors, like amputees, etc. They lop off the limbs they’re actually missing. Very realistic.”
“I think at Mania or something, we should have a fight sequence where we end up backstage, then we hit the pre-tape where I swing the sword at somebody. Whoosh, arm comes off. Finally, I use the sword, play it off.”
The idea never materialized on WWE television, but McIntyre admitted that he remained bothered by the fact that his character had carried Angela for so long without using it against an opponent. “It’s bothering me. I’m a stickler for details. That’s why I use social media the way I use it to tie stories together if I don’t think they’re tied together enough, and I’m a stickler for details.”
McIntyre jokingly suggested that his character could eventually find a way to put the sword to use. “I’ve had the sword for so long. I have to stab someone. Finally, all those years later, Agent of Shadows, Drew McIntyre is going to go shanking. I’m stabbing some people. The Drew McIntyre guarantee. I finally use the sword!”
Elsewhere in the interview, McIntyre explained why he eventually stopped bringing Angela to the ring.
The sword was named in honor of his late mother and became an important part of his WWE presentation, reflecting both his Scottish heritage and his personal connection to the weapon.
However, McIntyre felt that it no longer suited the increasingly serious direction of his character, particularly following his devastating loss at Clash at the Castle. “Evolution. I’ve been carrying it for a while. I would love to bring it back for a special entrance of the likes or maybe for a period of time cause I loved having it,” McIntyre said. “I’m proud of my Scottish roots. I love that we called it Angela after my late mother.”
McIntyre explained that his character’s emotional struggles required a different presentation, making the sword feel out of place as his storylines explored the psychological impact of his setbacks. “The way the character was evolving through that period from losing the big match at Clash of the Castle in front of my family etc. and you know the downward spiral, it felt weird to go real deep with the character and you know really go into the trauma and the PTSD of the character and stand there with a giant sword in my hand while I’m trying to sell that story.”
Although Angela is no longer a regular feature of McIntyre’s entrances, he has not ruled out bringing the sword back for a special appearance or another occasion that fits his character.
For now, the proposed WrestleMania sword attack remains one of McIntyre’s more unusual creative pitches that never made it onto WWE programming.
