Local hero Drew McIntyre says it’s a ‘dream’ to be inducted into Hall of Fame at Ibrox ahead of Clash at the Castle showdown with Priest

Drew McIntyre is already feeling the love from his home fans ahead of Saturday night’s Clash at the Castle in Glasgow after he was inducted into the Scottish Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The 39-year-old, who is originally from Ayr, takes on current WWE world heavyweight champion Damian Priest for the title he so dramatically lost at this year’s WrestleMania, in the showpiece bout at the Hydro.

And, after touching back down in Scotland, he was quickly heading for Ibrox – home of his favourite football club, Glasgow Rangers – for a ceremony in his honour.

‘It is a huge honour to be inducted into the Scottish Wrestling Hall of Fame,’ said McIntyre, who will also appear at Smackdown on Friday night. ‘I am so incredibly proud to be from Scotland, from Ayrshire. To be inducted at Ibrox, as well, doesn’t feel real. It’s incredible. It’s surreal.

‘Maybe it’s the jet-lag, but it feels like I’m dreaming just now – and I certainly don’t want to wake up!’

Former Rangers players Lee McCulloch (far left) and Mark Hateley (far right) were part of the ceremony at Ibrox

Drew McIntyre will take on Damian Priest on Saturday night at Glasgow’s Hydro arena

Clash at the Castle is the first Premium Live Event (PLE) to be held in Scotland.

‘It’s going to be mental,’ admitted McIntyre. ‘I can’t even imagine how I am going to feel. I just need to keep myself together during my entrance – never mind the match itself.

‘I’ve had a few shows before in Scotland, in front of friends and family, but they weren’t televised.

‘The first Clash at the Castle was in Wales and people had travelled from all over the UK and it was very emotional.

‘This time, it’s actually in Scotland, it’s a PLE, it’s going to be broadcast live across the world to millions of people, it’s going to be amazing, not just for myself but to showcase the Scottish fans.’

In future, McIntyre would like to return to his home country and pack out one of the big stadia, such as Murrayfield, which just hosted three Taylor Swift concerts to great aplomb.

‘We need the Scottish fans to pack the place out and be louder than they’ve ever been,’ he said. ‘It’s doesn’t matter if you are blue, or green, or even Partick Thistle! It doesn’t matter who you are — on that weekend, we are all Scottish!

‘We’re going to show the world who we are at the Euros (as Scotland take on Germany). We’re going to show the world who we are in Glasgow.

‘We have to show the world that Scotland are the most passionate and loud fans in the world.’

Friday Night SmackDown airs live from the Hydro Glasgow, Friday, June 14. Tune in on TNT Sports

Clash at the Castle: Scotland airs live from the Hydro Glasgow, Saturday, June 15. Tune in on the WWE Network and TNT Sports Box Office.