The landscape of the blue brand was forever altered on the January 9 episode of SmackDown in Berlin, Germany. Cody Rhodes defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match that pushed both men to their physical limits.
The Three Stages of Hell match is a rare stipulation that requires a competitor to win two out of three falls under different rules. The first fall was a traditional wrestling match, which saw McIntyre secure an early advantage. Rhodes fought back in the second fall, a Falls Count Anywhere match, evening the score with a CrossRhodes on the announce table to send the contest into the third and final stage.
The final fall took place inside a Steel Cage, where the “Samoan Werewolf” made his presence felt. Jacob Fatu, who has been sidelined since October following a backstage attack, made a shocking return by attacking both men. In storyline, it was said that Fatu thought McIntyre was behind the attack from months ago.
During the chaotic interference, McIntyre managed to fall out of the steel cage while Fatu was fighting with Rhodes to win the title. This win marks McIntyre’s first Undisputed WWE Championship reign since February 2021, ending Rhodes’ run at the top of the mountain.
🚨 AND NEWWWWWWW 🚨
DREW MCINTYRE IS FINALLY THE NEW UNDISPUTED CHAMPION 😭🔥#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/6RQF4zzce4
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) January 9, 2026
JACOB FATU IS BACK!
HE STOPS DREW FROM ESCAPING THE CAGE!
AND NOW HE'S BEATING HIS ASS!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/QVG0ToANtu
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) January 9, 2026
DREW MCINTYRE GANA EL WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII #SMACKDOWN pic.twitter.com/7qEh7ZFp8O
— LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) January 9, 2026
JACOB FATU ATACA A DREW MCINTYRE
NO JODER NO #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hJuffGWhrz
— LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) January 9, 2026
