All articles tagged with #drew mcintyre
Fightful Select reports that Drew McIntyre’s February 6 SmackDown promo critiquing CM Punk and Roman Reigns was written by Cristian Scovell, following earlier attacks by Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu; the segment framed McIntyre as SmackDown’s backbone and the defending Undisputed WWE Champion ahead of WrestleMania season.
Drew McIntyre fired back on SmackDown after CM Punk and Roman Reigns buried him on Raw, saying he carried WWE through the pandemic and that Punk and Reigns belittling SmackDown and his title amounts to a declaration of war. He mocked Reigns’ family-led ascent and called Punk “Fragile Phil,” signaling a tense confrontation as WrestleMania 42 build continues, following earlier attacks on McIntyre by Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu on the same show.
During the Men’s Royal Rumble, Drew McIntyre appeared at ringside and hit a Claymore on Cody Rhodes, sending him out of the match. He later defended the move, saying Rhodes deserved to be eliminated and that he’s at his best when the champion, signaling ongoing beef with Rhodes and lingering feuds with The Bloodline. Roman Reigns won the Rumble, with rumors about CM Punk for WrestleMania, and McIntyre teased unfinished business with The Bloodline while urging the OTC to back him as a WrestleMania challenger if that path remains open.
Roman Reigns returns to the top of WWE by reportedly winning the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, setting up a potential WrestleMania showdown versus Drew McIntyre or CM Punk, and addressing WWE’s creative direction after criticizing it on The Pat McAfee Show; the piece also notes an inconsistent line claiming Drew McIntyre won, indicating some ambiguity in the report.
Sami Zayn won the Fatal 4-Way at Saturday Night’s Main Event to earn a WWE Championship title shot against Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia; Zayn has never defeated McIntyre, WrestleMania season looms, and while a title change is not expected, surprises can happen in Saudi Arabia.
At the Montreal Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu didn’t have their advertised singles match. Instead, Fatu attacked before the bell and a chaotic arena-wide brawl erupted, ending with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre sending them through tables from the crowd. The crowd loved the spectacle even though the match didn’t take place.
Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell on SmackDown, with interference from Jacob Fatu, and is expected to carry the WWE Championship into WrestleMania, with Rhodes as the leading challenger; Sami Zayn has been discussed as a potential world-title contender and is part of a four-way at SNME to decide who faces McIntyre at the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, with Zayn as a betting favorite.
On the January 16 SmackDown in London’s OVO Arena Wembley, Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion and announced a contract clause blocking Rhodes from an automatic rematch; Randy Orton declared he’d be the next champion, Jacob Fatu interrupted, and The Miz launched an early qualifying match with a Skull Crushing Finale, signaling a chaotic title picture ahead.
Drew McIntyre celebrated as WWE Champion on SmackDown in London, while four contenders secured a shot at the title at the Royal Rumble: Randy Orton defeated The Miz, Trick Williams beat Matt Cardona, Damian Priest toppled Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn defeated Ilja Dragunov. Carmelo Hayes retained the U.S. Championship against Leon Slater. The show also teased Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu for Saturday Night’s Main Event and set up additional Rumble-related moments, wrapping with Trick Williams’s post-match attack on Zayn.
London SmackDown spoilers set up a Royal Rumble title showdown: Drew McIntyre remains champion and headlines the night, as four qualifying matches determine his first challenger for a WWE title shot in a four-way at Saturday Night's Main Event (Orton def. Miz; Sami Zayn vs Ilja Dragunov; Damian Priest vs Solo Sikoa; Matt Cardona vs Trick Williams). Cody Rhodes returns, declares for the Royal Rumble, and confronts Jacob Fatu in a tense segment. In the women’s division, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defeated Giulia and Kianna James, with post-match chaos from Nia Jax and Lash Legend. A Bray Wyatt/Uncle Howdy vignette and Sikoa’s lantern storyline with Bo Dallas add further layers to the night’s buildup around the title picture and the tag team storyline.
Drew McIntyre is set to open the January 16, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown as the Undisputed WWE Champion from the OVO Arena Wembley in London, with Jacob Fatu's involvement teased for a potential early confrontation. The show also features Carmelo Hayes’ United States Title Open Challenge and four #1 Contender qualifiers for Saturday Night’s Main Event—Randy Orton vs. The Miz, Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams, Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov—each sending a winner to a fatal four-way at Saturday Night’s Main Event to determine a final challenger.
On SmackDown, Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell to win the WWE Championship, with the final steel cage stage decided after Jacob Fatu attacked both men. Killer Kross reacted to the title win on Twitter by posting a photo of McIntyre with the belt and the caption “You love to see it.” Kross, a former rival who had returned to WWE, left the company in August 2025 after prior feuds with McIntyre.
Drew McIntyre's victory in the Undisputed WWE Championship match on SmackDown was highly supported backstage within WWE, seen as necessary to establish him as a top star heading into WrestleMania, with the match featuring a dramatic finish and surprise return of Jacob Fatu.
During WWE SmackDown in Berlin, Drew McIntyre won the Undisputed WWE Championship in a 3 Stages of Hell match after interference from Jacob Fatu, who returned from injury and caused chaos, signaling big storylines ahead for 2026.
Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre are set to face off in a rare Three Stages of Hell match for the undisputed WWE title on SmackDown, amid escalating tensions and a series of matches including Joe Hendry's debut and a US Championship change. The event featured notable segments and matches, with Rhodes and McIntyre's rivalry reaching a new level, culminating in McIntyre attacking Rhodes to close the show.