The road to WrestleMania 42 has officially begun, and reigning WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is wasting no time setting a quick pace for the new year. With the calendar flipping to 2026, the “American Nightmare” has released his January schedule, which sees him traveling across three continents in four weeks.
Rhodes took to social media to confirm his upcoming dates, revealing a calendar packed with high-profile television appearances, house shows, and a Premium Live Event. The schedule confirms that Rhodes will be a focal point of the company’s international expansion, with televised SmackDown tapings and “Road to Royal Rumble” house shows taking place in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.
Perhaps most notable is a championship defense set for free television. Rhodes is slated to defend his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre on the January 9 episode of SmackDown in Berlin, Germany. The bout will not be a standard contest; it carries the “Three Stages of Hell” stipulation.
The month culminates with two big events. First, Rhodes heads to Montreal, Quebec, for the revival of Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24. Just one week later, he will travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Royal Rumble on January 31. This marks a historic shift for one of WWE’s “Big Four” events, moving the traditional January spectacle to an international market.
The “Three Stages of Hell” stipulation chosen for the Berlin SmackDown involves a best-of-three falls format with each fall having a different stipulation.
January. pic.twitter.com/aKnfnQTM64
— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) December 31, 2025
