Drew McIntyre Dethrones Cody Rhodes, Wins WWE Title – Drew McIntyre is once again at the top of WWE after capturing the WWE Championship in dramatic and controversial fashion on SmackDown.

The January 9 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live internationally on Netflix from Germany before its tape-delayed broadcast on the USA Network. The main event saw McIntyre defeat Cody Rhodes in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match, ending Rhodes’ reign and crowning McIntyre as WWE Champion for the second time.

The match unfolded across its three stipulations, with both men pushing each other to the limit as the rivalry reached its boiling point. By the time the bout reached the deciding steel cage stage, exhaustion and desperation were clearly setting in. Rhodes and McIntyre traded heavy offense inside the structure, each looking for a way to escape and secure the victory.

The decisive moment came when McIntyre attempted to walk out of the cage. Just as it appeared he was about to escape, a hooded figure appeared at ringside and pulled him back down. Moments later, the figure revealed himself to be Jacob Fatu, making a shocking return and immediately changing the complexion of the match.

The appearance of Fatu carried major implications. It was strongly implied that McIntyre was responsible for taking Fatu out of action months ago on SmackDown, on the same night the two were scheduled to face each other in a number one contender’s match. That unresolved history came back to haunt McIntyre in a pivotal moment.

Fatu entered the cage and began attacking McIntyre with authority. However, when Rhodes moved in to confront him, the Samoan Werewolf turned his attention to the champion as well. With Fatu briefly distracted by Rhodes, McIntyre capitalized on the chaos. He walked out of the cage and escaped to the floor, officially winning the match and reclaiming the WWE Championship.

After the bell, a furious Rhodes lashed out at Fatu, attacking him inside the cage out of frustration. McIntyre, meanwhile, stood on the entrance aisle holding the WWE Championship and watching the aftermath unfold as SmackDown went off the air.

The ending leaves several questions unanswered. McIntyre is once again WWE Champion, but his victory came with an asterisk that is sure to fuel controversy. Rhodes has now suffered a crushing loss in Germany, while Jacob Fatu’s return signals unfinished business with both men.

With the WWE Championship back around his waist and multiple threats looming, McIntyre’s second reign is already shaping up to be anything but quiet.

Drew McIntyre Dethrones Cody Rhodes, Wins WWE Title

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