Drew McIntyre’s hopes of headlining WrestleMania once again were dashed this past Friday on WWE SmackDown when he lost the Drew McIntyre Undisputed Championship to Cody Rhodes, known as The American Nightmare. Their rivalry, which has been intensifying over several months, culminated in Rhodes securing the title and setting up a WrestleMania main event against Randy Orton.
How Drew McIntyre Lost the Championship to Cody Rhodes
The feud between McIntyre and Rhodes has been marked by numerous heated confrontations, often requiring intervention by officials to keep the peace. After McIntyre’s interference denied Rhodes a title opportunity at the Elimination Chamber event, WWE quickly arranged for the champion to defend his title on SmackDown. Following a tough 20-minute battle, Rhodes overcame McIntyre to win the championship. This victory positions Rhodes to face Randy Orton, who won the men’s Chamber match after McIntyre’s earlier interference at the same event.
McIntyre’s loss was further complicated by interference from Jacob Fatu during the title match, which played a crucial role in McIntyre’s defeat and loss of the championship. This incident suggests McIntyre may soon face Fatu in a future match to settle the score.
Drew McIntyre’s Genuine Response to Losing the Title
Following the defeat and the end of his short title reign, McIntyre expressed his disappointment directly on social media. Although he did not write any words, his first post on X since losing featured only a thumbs down emoji, clearly signaling his dissatisfaction with the outcome. This simple message has resonated widely, attracting over 6,000 retweets, 57,000 likes, nearly 3,000 replies, and more than 800,000 views since it was shared.
The replies to McIntyre’s post are largely supportive, as many WWE fans sympathize with him and express their regret that he lost the championship just before WrestleMania, which takes place in Las Vegas next month. Despite the disappointment among fans and McIntyre himself, the new match card reflects this change.
Confirmed Matches for WrestleMania 42
WrestleMania 42’s lineup currently includes at least five confirmed matches, though one features an open challenge by Brock Lesnar, with his opponent remaining unknown until the event night. The major title bouts have been finalized, with Cody Rhodes slated to defend the Undisputed Championship against Randy Orton.
Additionally, CM Punk will put his championship on the line against Roman Reigns. In the women’s division, Jade Cargill is set to defend her title against Rhea Ripley, while Liv Morgan will challenge Stephanie Vaquer for her championship.
This reshaping of the WrestleMania main event highlights the impact of McIntyre’s championship loss, as fans adjust to the new landscape and anticipate the upcoming confrontations on the grandest stage of WWE’s calendar.
