Professional wrestling delivered one of its most brutal spectacles when Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre collided in a Three Stages of Hell match for the WWE Championship.
The January 9th, 2026 edition of SmackDown witnessed a championship change that left fans stunned.
What unfolded was nearly an hour of pure chaos, spanning every corner of the arena and culminating in a shocking interference.
By night’s end, Drew McIntyre stood tall as the new WWE Champion—but the controversy surrounding his victory has ignited fierce debate across the wrestling world.
Stage One: McIntyre Steals Victory Through Deception
The opening fall began as a traditional wrestling contest, showcasing the technical prowess both competitors are known for.
But tradition quickly gave way to cunning strategy.
While the referee’s attention was diverted to an exposed turnbuckle—likely loosened deliberately—McIntyre seized his opportunity. He struck Rhodes with a devastating low blow, a move strictly prohibited in standard wrestling rules.
With Rhodes incapacitated, McIntyre delivered his signature Claymore Kick and secured the first pinfall.
The Scottish Warrior had drawn first blood through questionable tactics, setting a ruthless tone for what would follow.
Stage Two: Falls Count Anywhere Becomes All-Out War
With the second fall operating under Falls Count Anywhere rules, both men abandoned all restraint.
McIntyre immediately escalated the violence by powerbombing Rhodes through a ringside table, the wood splintering beneath the champion’s body.
Chaos in the Crowd
The battle spilled into the audience, where desperation and instinct took over.
In a bizarre moment that’s already becoming legendary, Rhodes bit McIntyre’s head while simultaneously grabbing a fan’s phone to snap a selfie—a surreal image that perfectly captures modern wrestling’s blend of violence and showmanship.
Backstage Brawl and Balcony Dive
The competitors crashed through backstage areas, exchanging punishing blows among production equipment and concrete hallways.
They eventually emerged near the arena entrance, where Rhodes orchestrated a breathtaking high-risk maneuver.
After positioning McIntyre on a table, Rhodes launched himself from the top of the balcony, crashing down on his challenger in a moment that drew gasps from the crowd.
The warfare continued back to ringside, where Rhodes executed his finishing move—the Cross Rhodes—driving McIntyre through the announce desk and finally evening the score at one fall apiece.
Stage Three: Steel Cage Becomes a Prison of Pain
With everything tied up, the final stage enclosed both warriors inside unforgiving steel.
Victory could be achieved through pinfall, submission, or escape—but escape proved easier said than done.
Early Escape Attempts Thwarted
McIntyre wasted no time attempting to climb out immediately, seeking the quickest path to championship glory.
Rhodes pursued, scaling the cage wall behind him. McIntyre caught his rival mid-climb and delivered a superplex from the cage wall, sending both men crashing to the canvas below.
Near-Falls and Resilience
Both competitors demonstrated remarkable endurance throughout the cage warfare:
- Rhodes connected with a Cross Rhodes, but McIntyre kicked out
- McIntyre responded with a devastating cutter, yet couldn’t keep Rhodes down
- After raking Rhodes’ eyes, McIntyre sent him into the exposed turnbuckle and followed with a Claymore—Rhodes still kicked out
The resilience on display was extraordinary, with both men refusing to surrender despite accumulating damage from nearly an hour of combat.
Battle Atop the Steel
In perhaps the most dangerous sequence of the entire match, both competitors battled precariously on top of the cage structure.
Rhodes managed to execute a super Cody Cutter from the elevated position, a move that should have ended any match.
Somehow, McIntyre kicked out again.
Jacob Fatu’s Shocking Return Changes Everything
As McIntyre regained control and attempted to exit through the cage door, the unexpected happened.
Jacob Fatu made his stunning return, attacking McIntyre at the doorway and seemingly preventing his escape.
For a brief moment, it appeared Fatu was assisting Rhodes.
But professional wrestling rarely offers such simple narratives.
Fatu turned his aggression toward Rhodes as well, attacking both competitors in a chaotic melee that left the match’s outcome in complete uncertainty.
During the confusion, with Rhodes incapacitated by Fatu’s assault, McIntyre seized his opportunity and crawled through the cage door to freedom.
New Champion, Endless Questions
Drew McIntyre departed SmackDown as the new WWE Champion, but the circumstances surrounding his victory have cast a long shadow over the achievement.
The Three Stages of Hell format pushed both athletes to their absolute limits, showcasing incredible athleticism, storytelling, and physical sacrifice.
However, several controversies now linger:
- The low blow in the first fall that went unpenalized
- The exposed turnbuckle that factored into multiple stages
- Most significantly, Jacob Fatu’s interference that directly enabled McIntyre’s escape
Wrestling fans are now debating whether McIntyre truly earned the championship or benefited from external forces beyond his control.
What Comes Next?
Fatu’s motivations remain mysterious. Was his attack on both men simply chaos for chaos’s sake, or does it signal a larger storyline unfolding?
Rhodes will undoubtedly demand answers—and likely a rematch—given that outside interference cost him the championship.
McIntyre now carries WWE’s most prestigious title, but the manner of his victory ensures this rivalry is far from over.
The January 9th edition of SmackDown delivered a match that will be remembered for years, not just for its brutality and athleticism, but for the controversial ending that left everyone wanting more.
In professional wrestling, sometimes the most memorable moments come not from clean victories, but from the chaos that demands resolution.