Possible Update On When Drew McIntyre Will Return To WWE [Report]

The former WWE Champion is dealing with a neck injury that has sidelined him for three weeks.

Drew McIntyre has been sidelined for nearly three weeks now as he continues to recover from a neck injury.

McIntyre defeated Madcap Moss in a singles match on the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view back on New Year's Day. He was attacked by Moss and Happy Corbin during a backstage interview after the match. This was done as a way to write him off of television, and WWE announced that he "suffered a cervical neck strain with severe contusions." McIntyre has been off of television ever since.

Last week, Dave Melter reported that McIntyre isn't expected to participate at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in nine days. However, a new report suggests McIntyre could be back before WrestleMania 38.

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, the 36-year-old superstar was advertised for the Mar. 25 episode of SmackDown, which will be held in Brooklyn, New York. This doesn't necessarily confirm that McIntyre will be back by then, but it does offer hope that he'll be back in the not-so-distant future.

McIntyre was seemingly in line for another main event push before his injury. The former WWE Champion was advertised for several Universal title matches at house shows throughout the month of January. Roman Reigns was scheduled to defend the Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar at Day 1, but he had to be removed at the last minute after testing positive for COVID-19. Lesnar was then added to the WWE Championship match, which he won.

The Tribal Chief will defend his championship against Seth Rollins at the Royal Rumble, while Lesnar will try to retain the WWE title against Bobby Lashley.

McIntyre Has The Second Best Royal Rumble Odds

For what it's worth, BetOnline lists McIntyre as the No. 2 favorite to win the men's Royal Rumble match (+800). Only Big E and Lesnar have better odds than McIntyre; they're both listed at +350 to win.