Drew McIntyre delivered one of the most memorable moments in recent WWE history by defeating Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship on the January 9, 2026, Friday Night SmackDown in Berlin. The Cody Rhodes WWE Championship Match, featuring dramatic interference and a shocking twist, ushers in a brand-new era for the championship landscape.
Main Results From Friday Night SmackDown in Berlin
The energy was sky-high as WWE broadcast live from Berlin, putting top stars and titles on the line. In singles action, Trick Williams overcame Rey Fenix with a decisive pinfall, solidifying his place as a rising competitor. Giulia maintained her hold on the Women’s United States Championship by defeating Alexa Bliss in another hard-fought bout, while The MFTs managed to claim a victory over The Wyatt Sicks, putting an end to their latest rivalry. Jordynne Grace continued her momentum, triumphing over Alba Fyre, and Carmelo Hayes stood tall against Shinsuke Nakamura to remain the United States Champion.
The headline match of the night pitted Drew McIntyre against reigning champion Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell contest for the WWE Undisputed Championship, setting the stage for a potentially era-defining outcome.
Drew McIntyre Captures WWE Undisputed Championship in Shocking Fashion
The Cody Rhodes WWE Championship Match ended in extraordinary drama, with Drew McIntyre becoming the new champion after a grueling Three Stages of Hell match. Jacob Fatu made a surprise return, interfering by attacking both McIntyre and Rhodes. The chaos incapacitated the former champion, giving McIntyre the slim window he needed to escape the steel cage and secure his third title reign.
This long-awaited victory marks McIntyre’s return to the top of WWE after several years without the championship, excluding a fleeting taste of gold at WrestleMania XL, where his World Heavyweight Championship run was cut short by Damian Priest’s Money in the Bank cash-in. The Scottish Warrior now enters Royal Rumble season as the man to beat, ending Cody Rhodes’ tenure and creating a seismic shift in the brand’s direction.
The Championship Picture Evolves After Rhodes’ Loss
With the championship changing hands, Cody Rhodes steps out of the spotlight for an unknown stretch, leaving the field wide open for new challengers. Drew McIntyre, now at the center of the WWE Universe, is expected to face a variety of contenders in his pursuit to establish himself once again as the top champion.
WWE’s upcoming programming sets up a highly anticipated Fatal Four Way match that will determine Drew McIntyre’s first major challenger. The lineup is stacked, featuring Trick Williams, The Miz, Randy Orton, Matt Cardona, Damian Priest, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, and Ilja Dragunov, all vying for a shot at the newly crowned champion. As McIntyre’s reign begins in the turbulent post-Rhodes landscape, the coming weeks promise fierce competition and possible surprise outcomes.
Drew McIntyre’s victory in the Cody Rhodes WWE Championship Match signals a fresh start for the title scene, with established stars like Damian Priest and Randy Orton mixing with emerging talents such as Trick Williams. The Road to Royal Rumble is now unpredictable, as both fans and competitors await to see who will step up to challenge the Scottish Warrior in the months ahead.
