• WWE Set To Book “Bloodline Hunter” Storyline In 2026
WWE is revisiting an idea that was once shelved rather than discarded. Internal creative discussions have reopened the door on Drew McIntyre’s long-rumored “Bloodline Hunter” concept, a direction that was previously pitched but never executed. According to Self Made Pro, the storyline is now back under consideration for 2026 after gaining renewed momentum behind the scenes.
Drew McIntyre originally pushed for the angle ahead of WrestleMania 41, with the idea centered on positioning him directly against Roman Reigns. That proposal was ultimately passed over, and McIntyre’s WrestleMania plans shifted toward a match with Damian Priest instead.
At the time, McIntyre was said to be frustrated with the creative outcome, particularly coming out of the Royal Rumble period, where several of his pitches were not approved. The “Bloodline Hunter” concept was among the ideas that failed to move forward despite his interest in the role.
That stance appears to have changed. Sources now indicate there has been meaningful progress toward reviving the storyline, with WWE exploring ways to continue from where the concept was left rather than starting from scratch.
Also Read: Lawsuit Claims WWE Copied Bloodline Ritual From Indy Promotion
• WWE’s Current WrestleMania 42 Plan For Rhea Ripley After Title Win On RAW
WWE’s women’s division is being booked with separation between television momentum and WrestleMania 42 planning, and the new tag champions are a clear example of that approach.
Despite capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship on this week’s RAW, Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY are not being positioned together for WrestleMania 42. According to Self Made Pro, the title change was not designed to set up any long-term WrestleMania direction.
The win over The Kabuki Warriors was framed internally as part of WWE’s broader television strategy rather than a roadmap to April. Sources said the company is focused on filling a heavy stretch of weekly programming between now and WrestleMania 42, which means top talent will be rotated through multiple storylines that are not intended to pay off at the biggest show of the year.
As a result, short-term directions over the next several weeks should not be read as final plans. WWE expects some angles in February to appear WrestleMania-adjacent before quietly pivoting, a pattern that has been communicated internally.
One point was made clear by Self Made Pro: Ripley is slated for a singles match at WrestleMania 42. Her involvement in the tag division is considered temporary and unrelated to her eventual WrestleMania role. No definitive direction was specified for SKY, but Ripley’s path is not expected to involve the tag titles by the time April arrives.
While nothing is known about Ripley’s WrestleMania 42 opponent right now, WWE did book a face-off between WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill and Ripley on a recent episode of SmackDown.
