In this day and age, it’s increasingly rare that a superstar gets over organically with the crowd. Drew McIntyre is the latest, electric instance of that happening.

It wasn’t forced like it was with Roman Reigns many moons ago. All McIntyre was given was a chance and from there he has kicked down every door possible.

WWE 4 Drew McIntyre is on the cusp of the very top in WWE

The biggest door was at the Royal Rumble where McIntyre became the first Brit to win the event and he chose to face the already legendary Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36.

While that match is still on despite the coronavirus outbreak, sadly there will be no fans in attendance to watch one of the most anticipated WWE title matches in recent memory, but the pair are still determined to put on a show.

talkSPORT was lucky enough to get the chance to talk to McIntyre ahead of his WrestleMania showdown

Hi Drew! Since the start of 2020, it feels like your character has just kept on soaring and the people have really got behind it in a way that is increasingly rare in wrestling. Knowing you a little, I’d say this is far closer to the real man than any character you’ve portrayed thus far, has that been the most important thing for connecting with the fans like you have?

Yes, 100 percent right. I am more comfortable than ever because it is just me. I think people started to see me relaxing and having fun and then they organically started getting with it. It’s like ‘this guy is having a good time – and he kicks ass!’ It was easy for me because I didn’t have to go out there without any particular script. I could just try things. And I’m a bit silly, a bit daft in real life.

It’s whatever, half the time my wife is telling me ‘Drew, you’re not funny, stop being ridiculous’ [laughs] but I don’t mind doing it out there. I run around in my underpants for my job, you know? So I’m willing to try stuff and I’m willing to fail and I think the crowd can feel that.

WWE 4 Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar will face off at WrestleMania 36

People keep telling me ‘Oh, you’re a babyface’ and I was like ‘when exactly was that babyface turn?’ Was it when I assaulted No Way Jose doing his conga line? Was it when I killed Rowan’s pet that he loved so much? [laughs]. I don’t remember turning good. I do remember starting to have a laugh and continuing the main theme of Drew McIntyre which is being an ass-kicker.

People started learning about me, hearing my story and they got with it as well. Then it’s like ‘Wow, I can relate to him a little more’ and have some fun, whereas in the past I was just a big, 6-foot-5, hairy Scotsman who no one in world could relate to. Now they know I’ve got a story, I’ve been through and overcome some hard stuff and it’s been an unbelievable feeling.

Your rivalry with Brock Lesnar thus far has been fantastic. Lesnar looks super motivated to make you look great and get the angle over and, of course, he’s been accused of the total opposite in the past. Jon Moxley/Dean Ambrose accused him of being lazy for their WrestleMania match, but one would assume your dealings with Lesnar thus far have been vastly different?

He’s the man. I don’t know what happened with Ambrose and their situation. He’s somebody that I’m friends with and I had so many great matches with, so I don’t know what happened there. But, in my experience, Brock has gone above and beyond to ensure I look as good as I can possibly look.

I’m still trying to get over the fact that a few weeks ago that they pointed out that Ricochet gave me the assist at the Rumble, they ran me down on the microphone a little bit. Generally, Paul Heyman builds them up to sell the opponent for Brock’s match, but it was the opposite this time. Paul ran me down, almost like ‘wait a minute, are we worried about this guy?’

4 Brock Lesnar has sold Drew McIntyre’s claymore like a truly devastating move

Then I walked out, looked Brock in the eye and dropped him three times. And, I’m sure you probably noticed, one of those kicks wasn’t necessarily planned! He went out of his way – he felt the crowd because that’s how good he is and I’m a professional.

There were no physical cues so we just kept going. And I was like, ‘Wow, this guy is unbelievable’ and I’m glad I’m at a level where I can read him at the same time. We’re working together here and he’s more than willing to go overboard to make me look as good as possible and make me.

Of course, there’s the video of Lesnar telling you to pick up the title too! Again, seemingly wanting to help you put an exclamation point on the segment and get the angle over properly and you were just so into the beatdown!

I was so into it! But I didn’t forget that, he [Brock] felt that in the moment and said ‘do it!’ The camera just picked it up, but that’s how much he’s invested in this. He made that call because he felt the crowd. Nobody one, sells like Brock Lesnar and two, feels a crowd like Brock Lesnar.

In my experience of anyone I’ve been in the ring with – and even talking with him backstage – in terms of learning it’s like wow… this guy gets it more than anybody I’ve ever spoken to. There’s a superstar level and being over level, and then there’s the elite level that very few people get to.

Drew McIntyre got caught up in the moment of beating down Brock Lesnar, but watch Brock tell Drew "pick up the title!" while he's selling, making sure they got the angle across properly. I adore how focused Lesnar was on making Drew look great last night – amazing! #RAW pic.twitter.com/D4NzusO31L — Alex McCarthy (@AlexM_talkSPORT) March 3, 2020

Right now I’m doing all I can to get to that level because I want WWE to be as big as it can possibly be and I want those ratings to go back up. I’m like a kid in college again like I was with Shawn Michaels in NXT, taking notes. I want to get to that level.

One would assume it’s no coincidence that Paul Heyman takes over RAW, you get to take some more chances and find yourself in a major, major angle with Brock Lesnar. Is it safe to say he has a high opinion of you and what’s the nine months or so he’s been in charge of RAW been like for you?

Heyman is somebody who has always got Drew McIntyre, even back in the 3MB days. He would still give me some positive feedback. What I could do, what I could try and pitch – he was always in my corner.

Obviously outside of the company I worked with Evolve with Gabe Sapolsky who is Paul Heyman’s protege and I was the face of Evolve for a long time, so it’s pretty cool that Paul was keeping tabs with Gabe.

I was able to work with the protege and finally come back to work with the master and when he finally got ahold of it and got more power, I thought I wouldn’t be surprised if I got more freedom. It’s because somebody knows Drew McIntyre better than I know Drew McIntyre and that’s Paul Heyman.

4 Drew McIntyre has worked fantastically well with Paul Heyman, who manages Brock Lesnar

And he said whoever he needed to say it to: ‘Let this guy have an opportunity. Just give him a chance. Even if you don’t see him as a good guy, give him a chance. He might surprise you.’

And I think that’s what’s been happening – Paul going out of his way to make sure I get the opportunity to show who Drew McIntyre really is.

Don’t miss WrestleMania on Saturday April 4th & Sunday April 5th on WWE Network. RAW, SmackDown, NXT and NXT UK air weekly on BT Sport.