Drew McIntyre didn't compete on last week's episode of Monday Night Raw, and you may have noticed that his in-ring role has been reduced a bit as of late.

Ahead of Raw at Madison Square Garden, Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that McIntyre wasn't present backstage. Johnson also said that McIntyre went through "a minor surgery" on a "lingering injury," that he suffered while competing in Mexico.

Johnson noted that the decision was made for McIntyre to undergo surgery so that he's prepared to return in October as they get ready for WrestleMania 36. McIntyre shouldn't be out long, and Johnson stated that WWE will decide when he'll wrestle again.

McIntyre was upset by Ricochet in the first round of the King of the Ring tournament two weeks ago. McIntyre was a prime favorite to win the event, but the former United States Champion was able to escape with a monumental pinfall victory.

Ricochet, Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin will face off in a triple threat match to determine the King of the Ring finalist on the Raw side of the bracket. The victor will go up against the winner of Elias and Chad Gable, who are slated to square off on SmackDown Live tomorrow.

Related: Drew McIntyre Makes It Clear He Wasn't Involved In The Roman Reigns "Attack"

via Monster and Critics

McIntyre is a favorite of Vince McMahon's, and a major push has been teased for him here in 2019. It hasn't happened yet, but all signs point towards him entering the main event picture before long.

The Scottish Psychopath has formed an alliance with SmackDown Live commissioner Shane McMahon, and they've feuded with the likes of Roman Reigns, Cedric Alexander and Kevin Owens. The possibilities are endless for McIntyre are endless here, so we'll see how it plays out once he returns.

What's Next For McIntyre?

The WWE draft is set to take place in October, so it's quite possible that McIntyre will be moved over to SmackDown - especially given his alliance with Shane. McIntyre is also overdue for a big push, so maybe we'll see it once he's fully recovered and cleared for an in-ring return. Either Paul Heyman or Eric Bischoff will have a top-tier heel to work with, and they simply can't hold him back.

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