He began training from the age of 15 in England, before moving back to Scotland to begin his career. Before long he became a regular in British Championship Wrestling (BCW) using the gimmick "Thee" Drew Galloway, winning their Heavyweight Championship twice along with the Heavyweight Championship of Insane Championship Wrestling. He also found success abroad in Irish Whip Wrestling, winning their top title. During this time he completed an undergraduate degree in criminology.
After touring the independent circuit around the British Isles, Galloway moved to the United States in 2007 to sign with WWE. Along with a brief stint on the SmackDown brand, he spent time in developmental territories Ohio Valley Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling, winning the Heavyweight and Tag Team Championships in the latter, before returning to SmackDown and quickly winning the WWE Intercontinental .The Chosen One (2009–present)
On 28 August 2009, McIntyre returned to the SmackDown brand, disregarding his previous time on WWE television, and established himself as a villain by attacking R-Truth as he entered the ring, using his new double underhook DDT finishing move, the Scot Drop which would quickly change its name to the Future Shock.[64] McIntyre would continue to attack Truth over the following weeks, claiming to be on the show to wrestle not to party like Truth.[65] On 18 September, while Charlie Haas was waiting to face R-Truth McIntyre came to the ring explaining Truth had been injured backstage, and then attacked Haas.[66] On 25 September, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, in character, introduced McIntyre as a "future World Champion" that he had personally signed after which Truth made a return attack against McIntyre.[67] The following week McIntyre continued to crash parties by making a speech at the Decade of SmackDown celebration until Truth put him through a table and the anniversary cake.[68] This all led to McIntyre's first proper match since his return at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view (PPV). At the event, McIntyre defeated Truth in under five minutes again using his DDT finisher.[69][70]McIntyre faced Truth once more in a singles match and won by countout to represent SmackDown at WWE Bragging Rights[71] but the episode before the PPV the entire team, captains aside, was replaced leaving McIntyre omitted from the event.[72][73] McIntyre briefly feuded with Finlay in the same manner as Truth with matches not starting properly[74][75] until McIntyre won their final meeting in under two minutes.[76] At Survivor Series, McIntyre had a place on The Miz's team for the traditional Survivor Series Elimination match. McIntyre, The Miz and his former rival Sheamus (previously Sheamus O'Shaunessy) were the surviving members on their winning team; McIntyre eliminated Evan Bourne and Matt Hardy.[77]
Being the only SmackDown superstar to survive against Team Morrison, McIntyre faced and defeated Morrison a few weeks later,[78] putting him in line for Morrison's Intercontinental Championship at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. Days before the event, Morrison mocked McIntyre's Scottish heritage by dressing as a Braveheart-inspired William Wallace,[79] but at TLC, McIntyre managed to pin Morrison after a thumb to the eye to win the Intercontinental Title, his first championship in WWE.[80] He retained the title against Morrison and later against Kane using underhanded tactics.[81][82] His televised undefeated record came ended in a Money in the Bank qualifying match against Kane on the 26 February episode of SmackDown,[83] but Mr McMahon forced General Manager Teddy Long to expunge the loss. The same thing happened again with Matt Hardy[84] before McIntyre finally qualified for the Ladder match by pinning an unsigned wrestler.[85] His winning record was decisively ended by The Undertaker on 19 March[86] and he also failed to win the Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania XXVI, his first WrestleMania appearance.[87]
In weeks after this, McIntyre continuously attacked Matt Hardy until he was stripped of his title on 7 May by Long and suspended for the purposes of the storyline;[88] McMahon decreed he be reinstated as champion the following week.[89] As a result, McIntyre faced Kofi Kingston, (who had won a tournament to determine the new Intercontinental Champion after McIntyre had been stripped of it) at Over the Limit, and lost the Championship.[90] After losing to Matt Hardy on the June 25 edition of SmackDown, Theodore Long informed McIntyre that his work visa had expired and that he would be deported back to Scotland immediately.[91] This storyline had a basis in reality, since Galloway's visa had indeed expired and as a result he was taken off television.[92] He returned two weeks later and was re–instated after apologizing to Long and qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match at the Money in the Bank pay–per–view by defeating Kofi Kingston.[93] At the event, he lost the Money In The Bank match to Kane.[94]
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