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WWE Adds Title Match To SmackDown Already Featuring McIntyre-Rhodes Clash

By John Canton • Published Mar 06, 2026 14:40 EST
WWE Smackdown Logo Arena WWE.com
WWE Smackdown Logo Arena - Source: WWE.com

There is another title match taking place on WWE SmackDown, in addition to the Drew McIntyre-Cody Rhodes WWE Title match.

The Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line on SmackDown in Portland on March 6th.

It’s a match that SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis set up after the WWE Champion Drew McIntyre cost Cody Rhodes inside the Elimination Chamber. Since Cody was screwed out of the win that went to Randy Orton, Aldis is rewarding the former champion Rhodes with a title shot.

Going into the McIntyre-Rhodes match, there are reports from the likes of Self Made Pro that Rhodes could beat McIntyre to become a 3-time WWE Champion and go on to face Orton at WrestleMania 42.

I was told on February 2nd, straight up and explicitly, that the WWE Championship match — according to Cody’s camp — was Cody versus Randy Orton. I was explicitly told that. Cody’s camp was told as of early February that he was going to be getting a Randy Orton match.

Cody is a believer in that match and a believer in that program. We’ll see what they end up doing. We’ll see if they stick with that.

Meanwhile, Fightful Select reported that WWE considered Rhodes vs. Orton on the WrestleMania match card for “well over a month.” The reason McIntyre beat Rhodes for the WWE Title in early January is so that Cody could be part of the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chambers.

WWE Adds US Title Match For SmackDown

In the WWE.com preview of SmackDown in Portland on March 6th, it was revealed that the United States Champion, Carmelo Hayes, will be a fighting champion again as he hosts a US Title Open Challenge on SmackDown.

As usual for the US Title Open Challenge, an opponent has not been named. The advertised SmackDown lineup is below.

  • Drew McIntyre to battle Cody Rhodes in an Undisputed WWE Championship Match
  • Rhea Ripley comes to SmackDown ready to battle Jade Cargill at WrestleMania
  • Carmelo Hayes to host a United States Title Open Challenge

SmackDown GM Nick Aldis has also said that they want to find challengers for the WWE Tag Team Titles as well in a Tag Team Turmoil Match.

Aldis also announced in a video on X that Randy Orton will start the show, and Nia Jax & Lash Legend will have a celebration for their Women’s Tag Team Titles.