'It's a cool time for Scotland': WWE champion Drew McIntyre hails Steve Clarke's Euro 2020 superstars and aims for England at Wembley

WWE champion Drew McIntyre didn’t mark his second title win anything like Steve Clarke’s dancing Scotland side did in Serbia – but he did admit the past week in sport has been ‘a cool time for Scotland’.

The wrestling giant yelled the Scotland celebration song ‘Yes Sir, I can boogie’ down the camera en route to lifting his organisation’s top prize for the second time on Monday night – but admits he had a much quieter night than the celebrating Scots enjoyed in Belgrade after his big win.

McIntyre watched the penalty shoot-out win on his phone between promotional filming for WWE, which hosts the annual Survivor Series event on Sunday night.

A few days later he hoisted the championship belt to mark a special few days for the football fan, originally from Ayr, and the country.

He told The Scotsman: “I was at WWE headquarters in Connecticut and they were constantly trying to get me to film - but I was on my phone watching the game. I couldn’t get away from it.

"Every time it’s the most nail-biting stuff when it comes to the Scotland national team - but that’s Scotland. We never do things the easy way – I took 20 years to win the WWE title with ups and downs.

"I’m so proud of the team to finally qualify for the first time since I was 13 - and there was also a reason to celebrate with the lad from Scotland [Tom Stoltman] coming second in World’s Strongest Man in St Petersburg Florida where I live - that’s another reason for Scotland to be proud.

“We’re only a country of five million and we’ve done some pretty cool things historically.

Drew McIntyre celebrates his second WWE championship win and takes on Roman Reigns at Sunday's Survivor Series on WWE Network

“This is a cool time for Scotland just now – a cool time but a difficult time too. I’m very proud to lead the company as a WWE champion – the first Scot and Brit to do so – while we give people a reason to smile during these difficult times.”

McIntyre kept it low-key to mark his second win – but referenced the players’ wild celebrations during his own match, much to social media’s delight.

He added: “I didn’t plan to say ‘Yes Sir I can Boogie’ but I was just so excited, that it was becoming our anthem, bringing the country together giving us a reason to smile - it just came out naturally - it felt right.

“Afterwards I certainly wasn’t dancing around the locker room like the players - my party days aren’t what they once were. I watch Netflix on the couch with my wife and cats - that’s how I celebrated my last title and on Monday night it was straight back to the hotel to sleep before more work.”

And he praised the work of fellow Ayrshire man Steve Clarke, born a few miles north of McIntyre’s hometown.

The champion added: “I didn’t realise Steve Clarke was born in Saltcoats, that’s pretty cool. He’s the man leading the Tartan Army and making a good job of it.

“I miss my family and friends and I’d love some semblance of normality back to actually be there – I’d love to get over for the England game.”

Drew McIntyre faces Roman Reigns this Sunday at Survivor Series on WWE Network

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