Over the weekend in Lubbock, Texas, Cody Rhodes faced Drew McIntyre in a fiercely contested match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Although Rhodes was preparing to secure the No. 1 Contender spot at the upcoming Elimination Chamber event, this house show match provided another chance to challenge McIntyre directly for the title.
Match Ends in Controversy Without Title Change
The bout reached an unexpected conclusion when McIntyre was disqualified after the referee caught him striking Rhodes with a steel chair. This disqualification handed Rhodes the match victory, but crucially, it did not result in him capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship, the primary objective behind the encounter.
Post-Match Tensions Escalate Dramatically
Following the conclusion, McIntyre extended a handshake, seemingly trying to de-escalate the situation and avoid further harm. However, Rhodes rejected the gesture and delivered a brutal Cross Rhodes maneuver. He then placed McIntyre onto a table within the ring and executed a high-impact splash from the top rope, breaking the table and leaving McIntyre incapacitated.
Implications for the Upcoming WrestleMania Showdown
This intense encounter is likely to remain fresh in the minds of both competitors as Rhodes prepares to face McIntyre at WrestleMania. The physicality displayed and the unresolved aggression suggest that their upcoming match will be highly charged, with Rhodes seeking to finally claim the championship and avenge this charged rivalry.
Cody and Drew after the main event! Love seeing the nightmare with that edge!#WWELubbock pic.twitter.com/0fEMAfn74W
— Matthew Abernathy (@Aberna16Matthew) February 15, 2026
