Drew McIntyre WWE Championship victory has ignited fresh debate after WWE awarded him the title in a highly charged 3 Stages of Hell match on the January 9th, 2026, edition of SmackDown. The decision has left fans divided, as the company’s reasoning and timing suggest they had their backs against the wall, making the outcome seem less like triumph and more like a forced move.
Events Leading to McIntyre’s Return as Champion
McIntyre’s 2026 campaign saw him stare down old adversaries, but it was his climactic match against Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship that captured the spotlight. Taking place on SmackDown, the bout was contested through three escalating stages—beginning with a traditional singles contest. McIntyre claimed the initial fall, yet Rhodes soon retaliated, leveling the score in a falls count anywhere segment.
The decider then unfolded within the confines of a steel cage, an environment crafted to limit outside influence. As McIntyre neared victory by attempting to escape the cage, a returning Jacob Fatu intervened, shifting the bout’s momentum. Inside the ring, Fatu unleashed an assault on McIntyre, only to then turn his aggression toward Rhodes, enabling McIntyre to slip out and secure the championship.
This win followed consecutive setbacks for McIntyre at Wrestlepalooza and Saturday Night’s Main Event, leaving many observers questioning why this was the moment WWE chose to restore him to champion status.
The Company’s Predicament After Past Defeats
Drew McIntyre’s earlier defeats at the hands of Cody Rhodes had left him at a crossroads. Each clean loss not only damaged his standing but also risked making future title shots irrelevant, sapping the “Scottish Warrior” of the momentum needed to remain a credible challenger.
Industry insider Dave Meltzer elaborated on WWE’s motives for handing McIntyre the title this time and why a more traditional finish was out of the question:
“The deal obviously is that they felt that Drew couldn’t lose again. He’d lost two times clean against Cody, and if he lost again, it would be a complete failure. So they decided to go, but they obviously didn’t want to beat Cody [clean]. You end up with what you had, basically a finish to fluke a win, change the title, and protect Cody at all costs.”
– Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
The decision was a clear reaction to avoid diminishing McIntyre’s relevance, yet the finish itself—dependent on outside interference and not a clean win—revealed WWE’s concern about protecting both top stars while moving the belt.
Ongoing Fallout and Questions About WWE’s Choices
For the WWE, the manner in which the championship changed hands has amplified criticism from fans and insiders alike. Rather than restoring the champion’s luster, McIntyre’s WWE Championship victory is shrouded in controversy, as the company’s reluctance to allow a definitive result has cast doubt on both competitors’ legitimacy and WWE’s creative direction.
The impact extends beyond Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, as other figures—like Jacob Fatu, whose intervention determined the finish—have become entangled in this volatile story. Even as McIntyre addressed his supporters in Scotland and WWE sought positive public attention, the emotional fallout persists, with tense debates over how these booking decisions reflect on the promotion’s ability to build compelling championship narratives.
With fans demanding clarity and authenticity, WWE’s choice reveals a strategy rooted more in desperation than celebration, leaving the path forward for all key figures—McIntyre, Rhodes, and the company itself—uncertain and clouded by frustration.
