Drew McIntyre Undisputed Championship holder finds himself in the sights of Matt Cardona, a veteran WWE superstar who last faced McIntyre in 2019. The pursuit follows McIntyre’s hard-earned victory over Cody Rhodes during the January 9 edition of Friday Night SmackDown in Berlin, where he captured the Undisputed WWE Championship after a grueling Three Stages of Hell match.
Matt Cardona Announces His Championship Ambitions
Following McIntyre’s triumph and the title change, attention quickly shifted to Matt Cardona. Before the highly anticipated match in Berlin, Cody Rhodes encountered Cardona backstage, where Cardona made his aspirations for the World Championship clear. Even though Rhodes was soon defeated and the Undisputed title changed hands, Cardona’s focus on the championship remained unchanged.
Cardona, once a United States Champion and previously known as Zack Ryder, took to X (Twitter) to share his resolve. Having previously won the United States, Intercontinental, and Tag Team championships, Cardona set his sights squarely on the highest prize held by McIntyre.
“I’M NOT FINISHED!Intercontinental Champ ☑️United States Champ ☑️Tag Team Champ ☑️☑️Just missing the Undisputed @WWE Championship!”
— Matt Cardona, WWE Superstar
“I’M NOT FINISHED!Intercontinental Champ ☑️ United States Champ ☑️Tag Team Champ ☑️☑️Just missing the Undisputed @WWE Championship! pic.twitter.com/7dtYms5ug7— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) January 11, 2026”
— Matt Cardona, WWE Superstar
Reignited Rivalries and Cardona’s WWE Return
Cardona and McIntyre have a brief but significant shared history within WWE. They last competed against each other during the December 30, 2019 episode of Monday Night RAW, where McIntyre emerged victorious in a two-on-one handicap match against Cardona and Curt Hawkins. Their preceding singles encounter, on December 16, saw McIntyre defeat Cardona in another closely watched contest.
Cardona, who was released from WWE in 2020 as part of cost reductions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, spent several years reinvigorating his wrestling career on the independent circuit. His official WWE return was marked on SmackDown’s January 2 episode, where he secured a win against Kit Wilson, signaling he was back to compete among the top superstars.
Competition Heats Up in the Tournament for the Next Challenger
As anticipation for the Undisputed Championship grows, it was announced before the Three Stages of Hell match that Nick Aldis would oversee an upcoming tournament. The competition, set for the next episode of SmackDown, will determine who will face Drew McIntyre for his title at Royal Rumble. Eight top stars are scheduled to compete in this single-elimination tournament, further intensifying the focus on the Undisputed Championship.
The tournament matchups are: Randy Orton facing The Miz, Sami Zayn against Ilja Dragunov, Matt Cardona meeting Trick Williams, and Damian Priest squaring off with Solo Sikoa. Winners from each match will advance to a four-way contest at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where the final challenger for McIntyre’s championship will be decided.
What Lies Ahead in the WWE Championship Picture
With McIntyre’s Undisputed Championship reign underway and Matt Cardona’s renewed pursuit, the stakes have never been higher in WWE. This focus on the title is reflected in the fierce competition lining up in the coming tournament, as established stars like Sami Zayn and Randy Orton, as well as up-and-comers like Trick Williams, all set their sights on the ultimate prize.
The involvement of figures such as Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes, and other prominent contenders ensures that the coming weeks of SmackDown and the Royal Rumble will be closely watched. As the landscape of the WWE title scene develops, Drew McIntyre faces an ever-growing list of challengers, and fans will be watching to see whether Matt Cardona can secure his long-awaited moment as Undisputed Champion.
I’M NOT FINISHED!
Intercontinental Champ ☑️
United States Champ ☑️
Tag Team Champ ☑️☑️Just missing the Undisputed @WWE Championship! pic.twitter.com/7dtYms5ug7
— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) January 11, 2026
