Drew McIntyre’s recent WWE title reign ended abruptly when Cody Rhodes took the championship back on SmackDown, cutting McIntyre’s run to just 56 days. This brief run and the way it unfolded strongly suggest WWE is moving away from fully backing McIntyre’s reign as champion.
Loss of Title Before WrestleMania 42 Undermines McIntyre’s Status
Winning and defending a title at WrestleMania elevates a wrestler’s standing, but McIntyre lost the WWE championship more than a month before WrestleMania 42. The decision to have him lose the belt six weeks ahead of WWE’s biggest event in Las Vegas indicates Triple H did not intend to position McIntyre as a key player during WrestleMania weekend. If McIntyre had retained the title going into the event, it would have signaled that he remains a main-event level star, yet his last two reigns lasted merely five minutes and then 56 days.
McIntyre’s Portrayal as a Cautious Heel Limits His Credibility
Despite winning the championship in a Three Stages of Hell match against Cody Rhodes, McIntyre was largely booked as a cowardly villain during his reign. His tactics involved targeting opponents with surprise attacks before fleeing to avoid further engagement. This approach diminished his image as a dominant champion and showed that WWE officials lacked full confidence in his ability to carry the title convincingly. A clean pinfall victory over Rhodes would have enhanced his credibility and demonstrated stronger support for his reign.
Only One Clear Title Defense Highlights Weakness of Reign
Throughout his championship run, McIntyre only managed to defeat one challenger cleanly: Sami Zayn. McIntyre often ridiculed Zayn’s inability to win a major title, but outside this victory, his defenses were less decisive. For instance, his win over Rhodes to reclaim the title was not a definitive triumph; he escaped the cage while Rhodes was still struggling, rather than decisively overcoming him in the match. This tactic suggested McIntyre’s run was a temporary detour before the company returned to their planned storyline heading into WrestleMania.
Functions More as a Transitional Champion Than a Long-Term Fixture
The WWE title scene in recent months has centered around Rhodes, Randy Orton, McIntyre, and briefly, Sami Zayn. McIntyre and Orton feuded through late summer and early fall, culminating in McIntyre pursuing Cody Rhodes. While Orton appeared sporadically, the storyline trajectory clearly built toward a Rhodes-Orton showdown. Many were surprised by Orton’s unexpected win at the Elimination Chamber, but considering WWE’s direction, the real surprise would have been if someone outside Rhodes or Orton captured the title. McIntyre was essentially used as a placeholder champion until the company reached its key event window, which reflects a lack of sustained investment in his championship status.
