The highly anticipated Drew McIntyre WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes appears to have had its result leaked ahead of time, casting a tense shadow over their brewing rivalry. The decisive 3 Stages of Hell contest, set for January 9 on SmackDown in Berlin, has fans anxiously awaiting whether McIntyre can finally claim the Undisputed WWE Championship or fall short a third time.
Details of the 3 Stages of Hell Stipulations Announced
Tensions escalated last night on SmackDown when Drew McIntyre revealed the stipulations for his upcoming rubber match with Cody Rhodes. The battle for the Undisputed WWE Championship will begin with a standard wrestling match, followed by a Falls Count Anywhere segment for the second fall. If both men secure a victory and force a tiebreaker, Rhodes and McIntyre will face off inside a steel cage, heightening the sense of finality for their feud.
The Scottish Warrior, as McIntyre is often called, has come up short in his pursuit of the title against The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, twice before. Despite these setbacks, a hopeful sentiment prevails among fans who believe McIntyre could finally topple Rhodes in their third encounter. However, backstage developments suggest otherwise.
Leaked Plans Hint at McIntyre’s Defeat
Adding to the unease, former WWE commentator Jonathan Coachman has reported that sources indicate Cody Rhodes will retain his title, setting up a clash with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. Coachman specifically stated:
“But that’s exactly what is going to happen. My sources have Cody and Roman at mania. Such a miss the last 18 months. Drew has the “heel chops” to be that nasty heel they need that they see to be positioning Gunther to try and be. But Gunther simply isn’t that kind of a heel. Booking is not write and Drew Is getting the short end of stick”
– Jonathan Coachman, Former WWE Commentator
Multiple reports echo that McIntyre is once again expected to lose, reinforcing doubts about his championship prospects and adding tension to his ongoing rivalry with Rhodes.
Randy Orton Emerges as a Post-Match Threat
Even as McIntyre grapples with his apparent fate, other dangers loom for Rhodes. Last night’s SmackDown saw the return of Randy Orton, who openly declared his intention to challenge Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. Wrestling analyst Andrew Baydala commented that a storyline is rapidly developing between Rhodes and Orton—two former Legacy teammates—setting up a high-profile showdown at this year’s Royal Rumble.
If the reporting holds true and Rhodes prevails against McIntyre in Berlin, attention will quickly turn to Orton as the next challenger. With Roman Reigns already locked in for a WrestleMania 42 confrontation, both McIntyre and Orton face steep odds in their pursuit of the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Looking Ahead in the WWE Championship Landscape
As the Drew McIntyre WWE Championship match draws near, the prevailing sentiment among fans and insiders is one of distress and frustration, especially for supporters of McIntyre. The wrestler has proved himself as an effective antagonist, but shifting priorities and storylines may have left him sidelined in WWE’s grand narrative. Meanwhile, developments backstage appear to cement Cody Rhodes’ reign at the top, with future storylines poised around his rivalry with both Randy Orton and, by all accounts, Roman Reigns at WrestleMania in Las Vegas. The outcome of the Berlin match is likely to set the stage for the next dramatic chapter in WWE’s championship saga.
But that’s exactly what is going to happen. My sources have Cody and Roman at mania. Such a miss the last 18 months. Drew has the “heel chops” to be that nasty heel they need that they see to be positioning Gunther to try and be. But Gunther simply isn’t that kind of a heel.… https://t.co/4ZvRKqU2I5
— The Coach (@Thecoachrules) January 3, 2026
Randy and Cody at the #RoyalRumble for the WWE Championship will be big business.
I believe Punks opponent will make a lot of people happy as well. #SmackDown
— Andrew Baydala (@AndrewBaydala) January 3, 2026
