On March 6, Drew McIntyre lost the WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown, marking Rhodes’s third reign with the title. This outcome sets Rhodes up to headline WrestleMania 42’s first night, defending the championship against Randy Orton. Despite McIntyre’s consistent excellence in the ring, the decision to remove the title from him yet again raises questions about WWE’s commitment to him as a leading figure in the company’s future.
McIntyre’s Latest Championship Run Was Disappointing and Prolonged
The ongoing feud between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes extended over six months, stretching from September until McIntyre’s victory in January at SmackDown in a Three Stages of Hell match. While McIntyre finally secured the WWE Championship, this long rivalry ultimately felt drawn out and unable to elevate either competitor meaningfully.
Following his title win, McIntyre had a brief and lackluster storyline with Sami Zayn, including a one-sided defense at the Royal Rumble event. The feud with Rhodes soon resumed, culminating in McIntyre thwarting Rhodes’s hopes at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, preserving his own championship reign but failing to build momentum leading toward WrestleMania. Meanwhile, on the rival Raw brand, the buildup to a high-profile Roman Reigns versus CM Punk match garnered much more attention, leaving SmackDown’s main event scene stagnant.
During the COVID-19 era, McIntyre won the WWE Championship twice in front of empty arenas at the WWE Thunderdome, achievements that failed to gain significant fan engagement. His brief World Heavyweight Championship reign also ended abruptly when he lost the title minutes after winning it at WrestleMania 40, largely due to his fixation on rival CM Punk. Despite a strong trilogy with Punk, McIntyre never had a championship match with the title on the line, reinforcing the pattern of near-success but no lasting dominance.
McIntyre Has Often Been Treated Like a Transitional Champion
Before McIntyre’s WWE Championship victory in January, reports indicated that Cody Rhodes advocated for him to win the title. Rhodes’s own character had weakened over time, so stepping aside was a logical decision. However, SmackDown’s men’s division has lacked strong babyface challengers, leaving McIntyre with limited credible opponents to push the story forward.
Sami Zayn’s title opportunity at the Royal Rumble was largely a product of the event being held in Riyadh, not storyline momentum. After the Elimination Chamber, Randy Orton’s victory positioned him for a WrestleMania match, but Orton versus McIntyre failed to generate significant excitement or ticket sales. As WrestleMania approached with fading enthusiasm, WWE chose to return the WWE Championship to Rhodes at the expense of McIntyre’s reign.
It remains unclear whether WWE ever intended McIntyre to headline WrestleMania as champion or simply to serve as a placeholder, allowing Rhodes to reclaim the title after a brief absence. McIntyre’s talent, charisma, and mic skills qualify him to be either a strong babyface or heel leading the company, yet WWE’s leadership, including Triple H and CEO TKO, seem hesitant to fully invest in him.
Potential Feud with Jacob Fatu Lacks Appeal and Impact
Reports reveal that McIntyre plans to take a break following WrestleMania to film a part in the upcoming Highlander reboot with Henry Cavill. This opportunity could broaden his exposure and raise WWE’s profile through association with a major film. Given this scheduled hiatus, losing the WWE Championship ahead of WrestleMania may have been unavoidable; however, failing to position him as the definitive star entering the event undermines his status.
Speculation suggests McIntyre will face Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania, a matchup that appears to be a step down from a championship feud. Fatu’s momentum in WWE was compromised by poor booking decisions and a dental injury that sidelined him for a period, reducing his aura as a credible challenger. Consequently, this storyline choice feels like a missed opportunity for WWE to capitalize on McIntyre’s talent during a critical moment in his career.
At 40 years old, McIntyre’s wrestling career may be nearing its peak, making WWE’s handling of him more significant. For WWE, maximizing McIntyre’s appeal while he remains a top performer is essential, lest they lose him to Hollywood or other ventures permanently. His involvement with the Highlander movie could signal a transition beyond wrestling, but the company must make the most of his star power while they still can.
“He is consistently one of the best performers in WWE, yet for whatever reason, TKO and Triple H just don’t see it.” – Unnamed analyst
“Did WWE ever intend for Drew McIntyre to walk into WrestleMania 42 as the top champion, or was he always meant to be a transitional titleholder who got Rhodes out of the picture for a few months before he could come back and take his place?” – Unnamed insider
“If he’s lucky, one day he won’t need wrestling anymore, because Drew McIntyre will have moved on to bigger things.” – Unnamed commentator
