The Royal Rumble is traditionally viewed as the start of the road to WrestleMania. However, for several years, until 2020, WWE held a pay-per-view in December. Several world title changes used to happen at Armageddon and TLC, with some new world champions walking into WrestleMania as reigning world champions.
Furthermore, with PLEs no longer taking place in December, there has been extra emphasis on WWE to keep fans entertained with surprising title changes on RAW and SmackDown.
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World title changes are typically reserved for major events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam. However, WWE has often thrown in a surprise with world title changes taking place before the Royal Rumble.
It’s a good way to shake up things, as sometimes the road to WrestleMania can become predictable. However, the start of January is a fresh start for many wrestlers to get their hands on a world championship. From Money in the Bank cash-ins to last-minute replacements, we review world title changes that happened on the road to the Royal Rumble.
An honorable mention goes to Kurt Angle winning the vacant World Heavyweight Championship in a Battle Royal on SmackDown’s January 13, 2006.
5. Drew McIntyre Defeats Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship (SmackDown, January 9, 2026)
Drew McIntyre failed to beat his former tag team partner, Cody Rhodes, for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Wrestlepalooza and at Saturday Night’s Main Event on November 1, 2025.
However, the Scottish Psycopath and the American Nightmare clashed in the first Three Stages of Hell match to take place on SmackDown on January 9, 2026. McIntyre had been knocking on the door for some time to secure his fourth WWE world championship reign.
McIntyre won the first fall, and Cody would need to win two straight falls if he was going to retain his title. As expected, Cody evened up the odds, and a third and final fall was required. They battled in a steel cage match, and Jacob Fatu returned.
With the Samoan Werewolf causing a distraction, McIntyre escaped through the door to become a three-time WWE Champion. McIntyre’s win was historic as he became the first man to win the WWE Championship on RAW, SmackDown, and at WrestleMania.
