Upon watching last weeks edition of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, I got the idea for this weeks column. In what was a short but rather sweet segment, a man by the name of “Drew McIntyre” attacked R-Truth before their match was due to commence and cut a quick little promo mid-ring in which he stated he was all business. The segment was only around 3 minutes long in total and featured yet another new talent to be introduced by Vince McMahon onto WWE television over the past few years. So why did I personally enjoy it so much?

Drew “McIntyre” is actually a man known as Drew Galloway, who is from a town called Ayr in south-west Scotland. He has wrestled since the early years of this century in promotions such as the SWA (Scottish Wrestling Alliance), BCW (British Championship Wrestling), IwW (Irish Whip Wrestling) and ASW (All-Star Wrestling) in the UK and was quickly established as one of the brighter professional wrestling talents this country has ever produced. The man has been under the employ of WWE since 2007 and has had a lot of time to hone his skills in OVW and FCW, which are development territories for World Wrestling Entertainment, while making sporadic appearances on TV.

Being from Scotland myself and being around the same age as Mr. Galloway, I could not help but let a smile creep across my face as he pounced on R-Truth and nailed him with a sweet double underhook DDT. The other reason I was smiling was very simple, the man spoke with a thick Central Scottish accent – much like my own. To see somebody on WWE television who is from the same background as myself was very satisfying. As a kid, I often dreamed of training up to be a pro wrestler and stepping between the ropes to live out the same experiences as my heroes Bret “Hitman” Hart and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. I wanted so much to be a part of the wrestling industry and get to perform on events such as the “Royal Rumble” and “Wrestlemania”. It makes me extremely proud that one of my countrymen could go on and achieve this.

I've actually thought of getting involved in local companies myself, even working as a ring announcer, manager, referee etc. To be a part of wrestling, even in a minor capacity, makes me excited. I have loved this business since the first time I stumbled upon it at my friends house as a kid and the idea of signing myself up for training still has not left my head. It really is nice to see that these dreams can come true for men and women of the United Kingdom.

Another man who is the proof of this pudding goes by the name of Stephen Farrelly. Known as “Sheamus O'Shaunessy” in the WWE, he too has been under the employ of the McMahon empire since 2007 and has been doing rather well for himself recently in a feud with long-time grappler Goldust. Farrelly, much like Galloway, was a staple of the British wrestling scene for years up until he bagged a spot in the big leagues. Paying his dues in the independents over here in Britain, it is clear he too has had the time to master his craft. His matches with a certain Mr. Runnels have been very well received both by critics and the fans themselves. Fingers crossed that Vince McMahon is also suitably impressed.

This is really what it comes down to. Do either of the men described above have the stomach or the ability to impress the biggest wrestling promoter in history? Early performances would suggest the 2 are brimming full of confidence. As well they should be, they are well on course to being the 2 stand-out British talents of this generation. This writer has no doubts whatsoever that Sheamus and Drew are up for the fight. To be performing in the top grap company in the world at this stage in their careers is a major compliment to how far they have come.

World Wrestling Entertainment is a notably difficult place to make the grade. We only have to look at other talented performers such as Chris “My name..is Braden Walker” Harris to see just how hard it can be. The amount of wrestlers and talent the promotion go through and likely scout is staggering per year. There is always somebody to take your place should you not make the grade and fall by the wayside. Very few places are available in the current professional wrestling climate to accustom yourself to performing in front of a televised audience, the WWE is obviously the biggest and best platform of them all.

It is only when you see men such as Chris Jericho or women such as Mickie James in person that you realise just how much being a wrestler can take. Attending a WWE house show event earlier this year, I was rather taken aback at the level of intensity these men and women are able to show. And they do this on an almost nightly basis. It's really impressive and makes you wake up and see that not just anybody could do this for a living.

I would love for Vince McMahon, his staff and the WWE as a whole to give both Drew “McIntyre” and Sheamus the time to breath as talent and grow as performers. Both of them have shown they certainly have the raw aggression and ring presence required to make it in the land of the 'E'. Here's to hoping neither will be a flash in the pan and will be back in this country wrestling “quicker than a hiccup” (thanks J.R!). They can clearly offer so much more. TAKE IT HOME!