2. Drew McIntyre Defeats Cody Rhodes – SmackDown (1/9/26)
There was a lot of pressure for Drew McIntyre to finally get over a mini obstacle and end his drought in world title matches. The Scottish Psychopath challenged Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in a Three Stages of Hell match. This was the first time that a Three Stages of Hell match occurred on SmackDown. Nevertheless, the former WWE Tag Team Champions had a brilliant match with neither man willing to back down.
McIntyre got off to a dream start by winning the first fall, knowing that he just needed one more to win the WWE Championship again. However, the American Nightmare wasn’t going to relinquish his title with ease. He battled back and won the second fall. The third and final fall was a steel cage match. The former United States Champion, Jacob Fatu, returned, but the distraction proved to be a decisive factor.
McIntyre found a way to escape through the cage door, clinching his fourth WWE World Championship. Furthermore, the Scottish Psychopath made history as he became the first wrestler to win the WWE Championship on SmackDown, Raw, and at WrestleMania.
