Five WrestleMania 42 matches for Drew McIntyre after losing WWE Title to Cody Rhodes on SmackDown
(Courtesy : WWE)
Drew McIntyre’s WrestleMania 42 direction will have to be different now.
The March 6 episode of Friday Night SmackDown concluded with a major title change. The colossal main event between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes ended with The American Nightmare’s victory.
Cody Rhodes became the new Undisputed WWE champion and will now head to the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 to face Randy Orton.
With McIntyre out of the title picture, here are five WWE superstars he could face at The Show of Shows this year.
5. Sami Zayn
Drew McIntyre has had a heated feud with Sami Zayn over the years. The duo produced a stellar showdown at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble PLE, which got positive reviews and reactions.
With McIntyre no longer World Champion, WWE could run back this exciting match once again at WrestleMania 42, which could be a top addition to the card.
4. Gunther
Gunther has made a huge name for himself in professional wrestling. Over the course of a year, he retired legendary names like Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles; however, recent reports suggest that there is still no locked creative direction for him at WrestleMania 42.
Drew McIntyre could prove to be a formidable choice for his opponent as the clash between these two heavy hitters will be a stellar match.
3. Brock Lesnar
Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar main-evented WrestleMania 36 with no audience in attendance due to the pandemic.
With Lesnar issuing an open challenge for WrestleMania 42, McIntyre can head over to RAW and answer the call. This will set the stage for this marquee match in Las Vegas this year, but this time, in front of a sellout crowd inside the Allegiant Stadium.
2. Jacob Fatu
One of the logical choices for Drew McIntyre’s opponent is Jacob Fatu. As witnessed on this week’s SmackDown, The Samoan Werewolf stopped McIntyre from using a chair on Cody Rhodes in their match.
Moreover, the duo have had tensions brewing between each other for weeks, so a clash at WrestleMania 42 would be a good storyline-wise decision.
1. Nick Aldis
Drew McIntyre had overstepped boundaries set by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis continuously. It was Aldis who scheduled the sudden Undisputed WWE title match following the Elimination Chamber PLE after McIntyre attacked Cody Rhodes.
WWE could capitalise on this rivalry and book a match between them for WrestleMania 42. Should it happen, it would mark the in-ring debut of Aldis, who has been an accomplished wrestler outside WWE.
How long did Drew McIntyre hold the Undisputed WWE Championship in 2026?
Drew McIntyre held the title for 56 days, from January 9, 2026, until March 6, 2026.
Who defeated Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship?
Cody Rhodes defeated McIntyre on the March 6, 2026 episode of SmackDown to win the championship.
Why was the Rhodes vs McIntyre title match booked?
The match was set up after McIntyre interfered in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, costing Rhodes a WrestleMania opportunity and prompting WWE officials to schedule the championship bout.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.
Nik O Conner is a long-time fan of professional wrestling. After dropping his Engineering regular studies in 2020, he decided to pursue his passion and became a writer. Over the last few years, he has written for multiple webs bringing a lot of skills and creativity to the table.