Imagine the shockwaves rippling through the WWE Universe as Cody Rhodes, the seemingly unshakable champion, lost his WWE Championship in a stunning defeat! It all went down on the January 9th, 2026 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, during a brutal "Three Stages of Hell" match against Drew McIntyre. McIntyre walked away victorious, becoming the new champion, but the story behind this title change is more complex than what meets the eye.
For those who missed it, McIntyre secured the win (as reported by nodq.com) due to a crucial interference from Jacob Fatu. But here's where it gets controversial... was this just a spur-of-the-moment decision, or was there something more brewing backstage?
According to a report from BodySlam.net, there was a significant internal push within WWE to put the title around Drew McIntyre's waist. Think of it as a tug-of-war between different visions for the championship. The report suggests that both Rhodes and McIntyre had previously pitched the idea of a title change, even around WrestlePalooza. And this is the part most people miss... WWE, after some deliberation, finally decided that the stars had aligned and the time was right to make the switch.
Why now? What changed their minds? Was it fan reaction, storyline potential, or something else entirely? These are the questions swirling around the wrestling world.
McIntyre himself seemed pretty happy about the win, posting a picture on Twitter (now X) with the caption "No longer bored at work." You can almost feel his excitement through the screen! (Check out the tweet: https://twitter.com/DMcIntyreWWE/status/2009787002250486160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw ).
But the story doesn't end with McIntyre's celebration. The road to the Royal Rumble and a shot at the WWE Championship is already heating up. Next week, we'll see four qualifying matches take place: Randy Orton vs. The Miz, Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams (a potentially explosive match between former friends!), Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa (a battle of powerhouses!), and Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov (a clash of styles!).
The winners of those matches will then collide in a fatal four-way showdown at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The stakes? A guaranteed WWE title opportunity at the Royal Rumble. So, who will emerge as McIntyre's first challenger?
This whole situation raises some interesting questions. Was Cody's reign cut short too soon? Is Drew McIntyre the right choice to carry the championship into WrestleMania season? Some might argue that Cody deserved a longer run with the title, perhaps even all the way to WrestleMania. Others might say that McIntyre's dedication and recent character work have earned him this opportunity. What do you think? Was this the right call by WWE, or should they have stuck with Cody Rhodes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
