More details on Drew McIntyre's Undisputed title win over Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown
(Courtesy : WWE via Getty)
The Scottish Warrior has finally conquered the throne.
In the main event of the January 9 episode of SmackDown, ‘The Scottish Warrior’ Drew McIntyre finally managed to conquer Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match with a little help from Jacob Fatu. With the win, Drew captured the Undisputed WWE Championship, a title that has eluded him for so long.
McIntyre reclaimed the company’s top prize after years of near misses, picking up his first world championship since Elimination Chamber 2021. The decisive moment of the match came when Jacob Fatu made his long-awaited return to WWE television.
The Samoan Werewolf stormed into the cage, interrupting the match and blindsiding Drew in an act that appeared to be retaliation for the backstage attack he suffered last year.
However, the interference quickly spiraled as Jacob Fatu began brawling with Cody Rhodes as well, turning the ring into a chaotic free-for-all. Amid the confusion, McIntyre seized the opening, crawling through the cage door to escape and win the championship.
Drew McIntyre & Cody Rhodes were unaware of the finish
In the aftermath of the match, multiple reports have revealed the moments and Creative plans leading to the main event during last week’s SmackDown. Now, a report from BodySlam+ reveals the two stars were not informed about the finish of the match until just a few hours before it took place in Berlin.
The report revealed that multiple finish ideas were discussed internally before WWE settled on McIntyre going over, with the outcome being influenced by accidental involvement from Fatu.
It also noted that the promotion intends to chart a different creative path on the road to WrestleMania this year, as McIntyre’s win creates new storyline opportunities heading into the upcoming Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and ultimately WrestleMania 42 in April.
Additionally, Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful’s post-SmackDown show that there was a strong internal belief within WWE that McIntyre needed to win the Three Stages of Hell match against Cody to firmly establish himself as the top star heading into Mania season.
“One of the things that I was hearing within the company about this Drew McIntyre title win was that a lot of people felt like he needed to win this title match, They felt that, in order to take him seriously as a top guy moving forward, he needed to win it.”
The return of Jacob Fatu and McIntyre’s title win has created a lot of buzz among fans, who are eager to see what’s in store on the Road to WrestleMania 42.
McIntyre is set to defend the title against the winner of the fatal four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, whose participants will be chosen via four qualifying matches next week on SmackDown.
How did Drew McIntyre score the win over Cody Rhodes in the Three Stages of Hell match?
Jacob Fatu returned and attacked both men, creating chaos that allowed McIntyre to escape the cage and win the final fall.
Will McIntyre defend the Undisputed title at Royal Rumble?
Yes, McIntyre is set to defend the title against the winner of the fatal four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, whose participants will be chosen via four qualifying matches next week on SmackDown.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.