WWE World Titles Defended By Drew McIntyre & CM Punk; One Lost

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk are WWE’s top champions, but one seems to keep losing matches, but not the championship. 

CM Punk has been the champion since November 2025. He defeated Jey Uso for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. Since then, he has defended the title against Bron Breakker on WWE RAW. His next WWE TV title defense is against Finn Balor.

However, The Best in the World and The Scotsman have been putting the titles on the line in WWE’s Live shows.

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre’s WWE live show results

The Second City Saint and The Scottish Warrior put their respective titles on the line against Bronson Reed and Cody  Rhodes, respectively, during ‘The WWE Road To Royal Rumble: Riyadh’. The live show emanated from Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, on January 18th, 2026.

While CM Punk was able to defeat The Vision member in the World Heavyweight Championship match, Drew McIntyre lost the match to Cody Rhodes via DQ, thus retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Unfortunately, Cody Rhodes will not get a WWE TV rematch against Drew McIntyre following the loss of the title on the January 9th, 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown. This was stipulated in the contract before the championship match.

Cody Rhodes reportedly felt it would be fresher to go into this year’s WrestleMania chasing the Undisputed Championship rather than defending it which is why he pushed for Drew McIntyre to become Champion.

(via @WONF4W) pic.twitter.com/5PE0IecPVF

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) January 16, 2026

Speculations claim that The American Nightmare could go on to win the Royal Rumble men’s match and then challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship again. However, Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes has been cancelled for WrestleMania 42.

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