In a surprising yet welcome twist, Drew McIntyre won the Three Stages of Hell match and finally became the WWE Champion. Not counting his short-lived World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL, this was McIntyre’s first World Title win in front of a live crowd. Berlin popped for the Scottish Warrior, who had relentlessly pursued the belt for years.
Although the initial reaction to McIntyre’s win is largely positive, WWE’s decision to suddenly take the top prize off Cody Rhodes, the Quarterback of the TKO Era, demands explanation. Fans will be hoping that Triple H has a plan with McIntyre with the Champion.
On that note, let’s delve deep into 3 reasons why McIntyre won the WWE Championship on SmackDown in Berlin.
#3. It was essentially do or die for Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre had been firing on all cylinders for the last 2 years, but Triple H wasn’t really pulling the trigger on his push. 2025 was challenging for McIntyre’s devoted fans, as WWE struggled to book him as a credible, top-tier heel.
The Scottish Warrior had already lost twice to Rhodes. The American Nightmare had successfully defended the WWE Championship against McIntyre at Wrestlepalooza and Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI (on November 1). Despite coming up short twice, the proud son of Glasgow was unwilling to give up his pursuit.
However, this was his last real chance at glory. If McIntyre had lost in Berlin, fans would have moved on, and McIntyre would have floundered in the upper mid-card territory for the remainder of his career. Fortunately, WWE made the brave decision of putting the top prize on the Scottish Warrior, elevating his stock once again and restoring his credibility as a top star.
#2. McIntyre’s win gives SmackDown a much-needed boost
For months, WWE fans had been complaining about the poor quality of SmackDown. Friday nights were largely skippable as the company stuck to a predictable format, and the brand lacked compelling storylines. Furthermore, the lack of solid main eventers and the misutilization of talent further derailed the brand’s momentum.
Drew McIntyre’s win promises to mix things up on SmackDown. With a new face atop the mountain, fresh challengers are likely to emerge, opening a long list of intriguing possibilities. It gives Friday nights the boost they desperately needed. For the first time in months, SmackDown feels like must-see TV.
#1. Cody Rhodes’ reign was getting boring
Cody Rhodes may be the undisputed face of the WWE and the backbone of the company. However, his second World Championship reign fell completely flat. Had his title run been more intriguing and competitive, many of SmackDown’s woes in the latter half of 2025 would have been repaired.
Despite being full-time, Rhodes didn’t appear on the Blue brand as frequently as a World Champion should have. As a comparison, CM Punk has been more regular as the World Heavyweight Champion on Raw. Not only did the WWE Title receive less screen time, but it also took a backseat when the American Nightmare joined Punk and the rest for the Men’s WarGames match.
On the rare occasions that Rhodes defended the championship, WWE resorted to cheap and half-finishes. Furthermore, not a single title defense failed to meet the high standards set for the brand’s top champion.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Jacob Fatu, 3 Stages of Hell, WWE SmackDown, and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the significant news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
You can check out WWE programming on Netflix (Raw), USA Network (SmackDown), The CW (NXT), Tubi (WWE Evolve), A&E (WWE Superstar Sunday – Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and Peacock (WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on YouTube, and catch fast-paced action on X (WWE Speed).
