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8-Time Champion Set To Challenge Drew McIntyre For WWE Title

By Sridhar Krishnan • Published Jan 24, 2026 11:32 EST
Drew McIntyre

WWE may have finalized a future challenger for Drew McIntyre’s championship.

McIntyre became a 4-time World Champion by defeating Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match on the January 9 episode of SmackDown.

After trading victories under the traditional wrestling and Falls Count Anywhere stipulations, The Scottish Warrior and The American Nightmare competed inside a steel cage.

Despite being inside a cage, the two wrestlers gave one another their best shots, only to see the other kick out of a pinfall.

After neutralizing Rhodes, Drew McIntyre crawled towards the cage door, where he was met by Jacob Fatu, who had been out of action for a few months.

Fatu attacked Drew, but Cody pulled him away, after which he got the same treatment. Seeing Rhodes get beaten up as an opportunity, McIntyre exited the cage, thus becoming the new WWE Champion.

Sami Zayn Emerges As Drew McIntyre’s New Challenger

Since returning to WWE, Cody Rhodes has been featured as a main event talent, even main-eventing a couple of WrestleManias against Roman Reigns.

Earlier, a few reports claimed that the creative team was contemplating a third match between the popular superstars, although that seems to have taken a backseat for now.

With Drew McIntyre winning the championship, introducing Rhodes as a repeat challenger could turn the rivalry stale. So, as a way to freshen things up, WWE may be planning on introducing a new challenger for the title.

According to a recent report by Fightful Select, Sami Zayn is expected to challenge The Scottish Warrior in the lead-up to The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Zayn is scheduled to compete in a fatal four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24 against Trick Williams, Damian Priest, and Randy Orton.

The report suggests that the Canadian superstar will win the bout and face Drew McIntyre for the championship at the Royal Rumble.

On the latest SmackDown episode, Zayn slapped McIntyre in a backstage segment after the latter attacked him by bringing his son during a promo segment.