WWE champion Drew McIntyre reveals he was originally scheduled to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26 but Shawn Michaels took his place
WWE champion Drew McIntyre is still hoping to face The Undertaker in a singles match after being denied the opportunity 10 years ago.
During his first run with WWE, McIntyre was scheduled to face The Deadman at WrestleMania 26 in 2010.
However, that spot went to Shawn Michaels as he lost to The Undertaker in an unforgettable WrestleMania main event match.
McIntyre, who beat Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 36 last month, told BT Sport: “He’s such an inspiration when it comes to work ethic.
“When I was 24, I was told by [chairman] Vince McMahon, ‘you don't listen to anybody but The Undertaker. He’s going to be your mentor. Whenever you’ve got a question you go straight to him’.
“The inevitable goal was to have a big match between him and I. Unfortunately I wasn't ready at the time, things worked out the way they worked out.
“I believe it led to instead of myself and Undertaker, it was Shawn Michaels and Undertaker in the retirement match, which was a phenomenal match, and I could not have delivered on that level at the time.”
McIntyre teamed up with Shane McMahon in a losing effort against The Undertaker and Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules last year.
It served as redemption for The Undertaker after his horrendous match with Goldberg at Super ShowDown.
The 55-year-old appears set to extend his in-ring career following his superb Boneyard match with AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36.
And McIntyre has The Undertaker in his sights.
He added: “A lot of time passed and eventually I got the opportunity to have the tag match with myself and Shane McMahon vs Undertaker and Roman.
“After the Goldberg match, our goal was to make sure to give him a match he deserves and everyone worked their butt off.
“When you’ve got someone like a Shane, a Roman or an Undertaker in there, no matter what, it’s going to go well. But it went extra well and he was moving great, he was very happy afterwards.
“I think I might have dropped into a conversation about a certain match I was promised about 10 years ago and I’ve got my list of things that I’ve returned to WWE to do.
“Number one was to win the [world] championship, which I’ve done. Wrestle The Undertaker after seeing him at WrestleMania and how good he looked, is up there and I know he’s capable of doing it and I want it to happen before he rides off for that last time into the sunset.”