Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship on the January 9 episode of SmackDown, shaking up the landscape of the company just weeks before the Royal Rumble. While the move caught many fans off guard, a new report suggests that the title change was a collaborative decision.
According to Bodyslam, both Rhodes and McIntyre were in favor of the title switching hands. The two stars reportedly felt that the change would give them both a new direction heading into the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season.
Following the victory, many believed that “The Scottish Warrior” would serve as a transitional champion, potentially dropping the belt back to Rhodes or another challenger before the biggest show of the year. However, that does not appear to be the case.
Sources indicate that McIntyre is currently expected to walk into WrestleMania 42 as the Undisputed WWE Champion. As of right now, a rematch with Cody Rhodes is the likely match for the event in Las Vegas. This would set the stage for a big main event encounter, giving Rhodes a chance to chase the championship he recently lost on the grandest stage of them all.
Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn in a four-way for a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble is slated to happen at this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.
