WrestleMania 42 just got a lot bigger on this week’s WWE SmackDown. Due to the interference of Drew McIntyre at Elimination Chamber 2026 in Chicago, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis decided that the “Scottish Psychopath” needed to set things right with Cody Rhodes this Friday night and give him an opportunity at the Undisputed WWE Championship, to finally decide the opponent of the “Viper” Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42.
Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre did not have a wrestling match but an absolute war for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Both men targeted specific body parts, but when the going got tough, they resorted to the dirtiest tactics, beginning with Drew McIntyre delivering a Powerbomb to Cody Rhodes through a Table on the outside.
McIntyre would follow that up with a Cross Rhodes of his own, only for Cody to kick out. Cody Rhodes would even make Drew taste his own medicine by hitting him with a Claymore Kick. WWE official Charles Robinson would get caught in the crossfire when Drew dragged him in harm’s way to eat the Disaster Kick from Cody. A second referee, Dan Angler, an official who’s had issues with McIntyre, would try to replace Robinson, only to get a Glasgow Kiss moments later.
McIntyre would get desperate and get a steel chair, only to get thwarted by Jacob Fatu. Even then, McIntyre would hit a Claymore flush onto the face of Cody Rhodes as well as Future Shock DDT, but Rhodes was defiant and kicked out of everything. Finally, Cody Rhodes saw the opening, delivering one last Cross Rhodes to become #AndNEW Undisputed WWE Champion.
Now that Cody Rhodes is the #AndNEW Undisputed WWE Champion for the third time, we turn our attention to Las Vegas, Nevada, and his battle with best friend, mentor, and former The Legacy running buddy Randy Orton. There’s a lot at stake here, and the history between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes only promises to up the ante even more at WrestleMania 42.
Congratulations, our new Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
