Drew McIntyre captured the Undisputed WWE Championship after an intense Three Stages of Hell bout against Cody Rhodes on January 9 during WWE SmackDown in Berlin, Germany. The climactic match saw McIntyre survive a wild sequence of falls and interference to solidify his place as Drew McIntyre WWE Champion.
How Drew McIntyre Overcame Cody Rhodes in Berlin
The championship contest was structured as a Three Stages of Hell match, adding escalating levels of difficulty with each fall. The first round was a standard singles match, the second was held under Falls Count Anywhere conditions, and the deciding third fall took place inside a steel cage, with the only way to win being to escape the enclosure.
In the opening fall, McIntyre seized an early advantage by hitting a low blow on Rhodes while the referee was distracted, quickly following up with his devastating Claymore Kick to secure the pinfall. This controversial momentum boost, however, didn’t last long. The second fall erupted into chaos as both competitors engaged in brutal fighting outside the ring. Cody Rhodes managed to even the score by landing his signature Cross Rhodes maneuver on McIntyre atop the announce desk, pinning him for the second fall victory during the no-disqualification melee.
The steel cage third fall raised the stakes even higher. Both The Scottish Warrior and Rhodes were clearly spent and battered when the unexpected happened: Jacob Fatu made a stunning, unannounced return and burst into the cage, launching attacks on both wrestlers. Fatu’s interference changed the dynamics of the match entirely, first targeting McIntyre before shifting his attention to Rhodes. The chaos allowed McIntyre a narrow window of opportunity, as he crawled toward the cage door and exited just ahead of his rival to clinch the final fall.
With that desperate escape, Drew McIntyre became Undisputed WWE Champion, etching his name once again into the company’s history. The feat came as a dramatic culmination of months of competition and personal battles, witnessed by WWE fans worldwide and the local crowd in Germany.
Reactions from the Wrestling Community
Following the title win, former WWE rival Killer Kross, now known as Kevin Robert Kesar, shared his enthusiasm on social media:
“You love to see it. pic.twitter.com/IC58RydKO3”
— Kevin Robert Kesar (@realKILLERkross), January 11, 2026
The message was met with excitement among fans who closely followed the evolving storylines involving McIntyre, Kross, and other leading WWE and AEW talents.
The Scottish Warrior Defends His New Title at Home
McIntyre wasted no time in adding to his championship legacy, hosting his first title defense just one day later. On January 10 at the WWE Road To Royal Rumble House Show in Glasgow, Scotland, McIntyre squared off against renowned challenger Shinsuke Nakamura. Performing in front of a passionate hometown crowd at the OVO Hydro, the newly crowned champion showcased his strength and resilience, successfully retaining his Undisputed WWE Championship.
After the final bell, McIntyre took to the microphone to address the Glasgow audience. He expressed deep gratitude and pride for bringing major WWE gold back to Scotland, fulfilling a promise to his supporters and establishing The Scottish Psychopath as a force to be reckoned with in the world title picture.
The Ripple Effect on WWE’s Championship Landscape
The outcome of the Berlin event reshapes ongoing storylines throughout WWE. With Drew McIntyre WWE Champion, fans and analysts alike anticipate major implications for upcoming events like the Royal Rumble, as new challengers—perhaps even involved parties like Jacob Fatu or Cody Rhodes—position themselves to pursue the top prize.
This victory also resonates globally, with the presence of notable names like John Cena, CM Punk, Killer Kross, and others linking its significance to broader shifts in WWE and even AEW narratives. As the Undisputed WWE Championship’s new holder, McIntyre’s next defenses and potential rivalries are already fueling speculation and enthusiasm among wrestling enthusiasts across Germany, Scotland, and the wider wrestling world.
You love to see it. pic.twitter.com/IC58RydKO3
— Kevin Robert Kesar (@realKILLERkross) January 11, 2026
