Why Drew McIntyre Winning The Undisputed WWE Championship Was Important

Drew McIntyre dethroned Cody Rhodes on the January 9th, 2026, edition of WWE SmackDown.

Fans went into the match expecting it to be brutal, but also expecting The American Nightmare to retain the championship.

However, in a twist of fate, Jacob Fatu interfered in the match, enabling McIntyre to escape the steel cage and dethroning Cody Rhodes.

Drew McIntyre becoming the new Undisputed WWE Champion was important for storylines

Prior to The Scotsman winning the title, it was shuffling between Roman Reigns, John Cena, and Cody Rhodes. These are three of the most popular WWE names, but also a small group.

On Notsam Wrestling, Sam Roberts pointed out that McIntyre winning the title opens up the group. Now, there is Damian Priest, Aleister Black, Randy Orton, Jacob Fatu, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns, among others, vying for the title. This changes the whole dynamic of the title. Furthermore, it also changes how Rhodes is perceived as a champion.

You know, we’re living now in this space where that WWE Championship, that title itself, has only been held by Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and John Cena. Well, that’s a very small group. We need to open that up. Drew McIntyre is the first person that opens that group up.

But the fact that you have eight people, baby faces and heels, all vying for that championship changes the full dynamic of the title and how Cody Rhodes is perceived as champion, which leaves you at this place where Cody needs to refigure out who he is.

It has been claimed that The American Nightmare will go through a shift in character following the loss of the Undisputed WWE Championship.

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