WrestleMania 40 was supposed to be the crowning achievement of a decade-long grind. Drew McIntyre finally got his big win in front of a live crowd, pinning Seth "Freakin" Rollins to become the World Heavyweight Champion. But honestly? The most memorable thing he did that night wasn't even the Claymore. It was a selfie.
Mid-match, while Rollins was gasping for air on the floor, McIntyre grabbed a phone from his brother in the front row. He snapped a photo, posted it to X (formerly Twitter) with the caption "Bored at work lol," and handed the phone back before returning to the beatdown.
It was hilarious. It was disrespectful. It was peak "Hater Drew."
The Origin of the "Bored at Work" Legend
WWE fans have seen everything. We've seen rings collapse, people get thrown off cages, and even the occasional wedding-crashing tank. But we’ve never really seen a guy live-tweet his own title match.
The Drew McIntyre bored at work meme wasn't some corporate-mandated marketing ploy. According to Drew himself during an interview on Logan Paul's Impaulsive podcast, the idea came to him just hours before the show while he was hitting the gym. He realized he had a window of time where Seth would be selling a suplex on the outside.
"I didn't tell anyone in the back," McIntyre admitted. He just wanted to see if it was possible to maintain the integrity of a high-stakes match while simultaneously trolling the entire world.
It worked. The post exploded. Within an hour, it was one of the most-liked pieces of content on the platform. It signaled a shift in his character—moving from a standard "tough guy" to a meta, chronically online antagonist who thrives on the misery of his peers.
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Why 2024 (and 2025) Belonged to the Hater
Let's be real: professional wrestling is usually about who can kick the hardest. But Drew decided it should be about who can be the most annoying on the internet.
The fuel for this fire? CM Punk.
Ever since Punk returned at Survivor Series, McIntyre has made it his life’s mission to be the ultimate antagonist. When Punk got injured during the Royal Rumble, Drew didn't give a "get well soon" speech. Instead, he stood in the ring and said, "I prayed for this, and it happened."
That level of pettiness is what makes the "bored at work" persona so relatable. We've all been at a job where we're basically just going through the motions because we think we're better than the tasks at hand. Drew just happens to do it while suplexing world-class athletes.
The WrestleMania 41 Sequel
Fast forward to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. Drew is in a Sin City Street Fight against Damian Priest. People wondered if he’d try to top the selfie.
He did.
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While Priest was recovering from a brutal exchange, Drew found another phone. He threw up a peace sign, snapped another selfie with a downed opponent in the background, and dropped the inevitable: "Still bored at work lol."
It’s a rare thing in wrestling when a joke becomes a recurring motif that actually builds heat rather than making the performer look like a clown. Drew pulls it off because he’s still terrifying in the ring. He can post a meme and then immediately break your jaw. That's a dangerous combination.
The Merchandise: Turning Trolling into Cold Hard Cash
For a long time, fans were begging for a shirt. They wanted to wear the "Bored at Work" brand.
It took nearly a year for WWE to actually pull the trigger on the merchandise. Usually, the company is quick to monetize a viral moment, but this one felt different. Maybe they were worried it made the matches look "too easy."
Eventually, the demand was too high to ignore. By the summer of 2025, the official Drew McIntyre Bored at Work shirt hit the shelves. It featured the iconic selfie, cementing the moment in WWE history. It’s now one of those items you see in every arena—a badge of honor for fans who prefer the "bad guy" with a sense of humor.
Breaking Down the "Chronic Online" Gimmick
What makes this work so well? It’s the nuance.
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- The Meta-Commentary: Drew knows we’re watching on our phones while he’s in the ring. By posting to his own phone, he bridges the gap between the "stage" and the audience.
- The Authenticity: He doesn't sound like a scriptwriter wrote his tweets. He sounds like a guy who spends too much time on Reddit and knows exactly what will get the "smart" fans talking.
- The Work Rate: You can't be "bored" if you're bad at your job. Drew is arguably in the best physical shape of his life. He’s delivering five-star matches (like the Hell in a Cell war with CM Punk at Bad Blood) and then acting like it was just another Tuesday.
Some critics argued early on that this might bury his opponents. If he’s "bored," does that mean the person he’s fighting isn't a threat?
Not really. It just means Drew is arrogant. And in wrestling, arrogance is the ultimate hook. We want to see him get his comeuppance, but we also can’t wait to see what he posts next. It’s the Floyd Mayweather approach: pay to see him win, or pay to see him finally get shut up.
Actionable Takeaways for the WWE Fan
If you're following the trajectory of the Scottish Warrior, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Socials: Drew’s best work often happens on X between Monday Night Raw episodes. He frequently deletes tweets or posts cryptic images that foreshadow his next move.
- Look for the Phone: In any major PLE (Premium Live Event) match, keep an eye on the front row. If Drew is near the barricade, there’s a 50/50 chance he’s looking for a camera.
- The T-shirt Factor: If you’re looking for the "Bored at Work" gear, check the WWE Shop during holiday sales. It’s a staple now, but it sells out whenever he has a big segment.
The "bored at work" era isn't just a meme. It’s a masterclass in how to evolve a character in the digital age. Drew McIntyre stopped trying to be the hero we wanted and became the hater we deserved. Honestly? It's the most fun he’s ever been to watch.
Keep an eye on his next match. He might just be posting about it while he's hitting a Claymore.