• Change Coming For Cody Rhodes After WWE Title Loss
Cody Rhodes’ second reign as the Undisputed WWE Champion has come to an end, but the story is far from over. After a grueling 3 Stages of Hell match on the January 9 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Drew McIntyre defeated Rhodes to capture the gold, ending the 159-day reign. While many fans expected this loss to trigger a long-rumored heel turn, internal reports suggest a more nuanced path for The American Nightmare.
According to Cory Hays of Bodyslam, those waiting for Rhodes to embrace the dark side will have to wait longer. Hays clarified that while a full-blown heel turn is not currently in the cards, Rhodes is set to undergo a significant “character shift” ahead of WrestleMania 42.
The finish of the match has also become a major talking point, as it featured the shocking return of Jacob Fatu. Fatu interfered during the final Steel Cage stage of the match, paving the way for McIntyre’s victory.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that the decision to put the belt on McIntyre was made to solidify him as the brand’s premier “monster” heading into WrestleMania 42. Interestingly, both Rhodes and McIntyre reportedly pitched the chaotic finish themselves, viewing it as the best way to protect Rhodes while giving McIntyre a much needed victory.
McIntyre has since taken to social media to gloat, mockingly referring to Rhodes’ time as champion as the “End of an Error.”
Also Read: WWE Live Event Results – Drew McIntyre Defends The Undisputed Title
• Saudi Arabia Wants 2 of the Greatest WWE Legends Ever for WrestleMania 43
It’s still over a year away, but Saudi Arabia has started preparations to host the most ambitious event in sports entertainment history: WWE WrestleMania 43.
According to a report from Andrew Baydala on The Final Bell podcast, stakeholders in Riyadh are making a monumental push to secure two of the greatest legends of the Attitude Era: The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. The vision for the event is to create an unprecedented spectacle that outshines every “Show of Shows” that has come before it.
While the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has reportedly made Steve Austin and The Rock their top priorities, the logistics remain a significant hurdle. Baydala noted that there is considerable hesitation from The Rock’s camp regarding an in-ring return in Saudi Arabia.
One primary concern is that the Hollywood icon believes he has exactly one match left in him, and there is a internal debate about whether that final bow should take place in Saudi. Furthermore, his jam-packed film schedule, which is reportedly booked through 2026, could make the necessary training camp for an April 2027 match nearly impossible to manage.
The push for Steve Austin is equally aggressive, with Saudi officials always willing to offer record-breaking sums to lure the Texas Rattlesnake out of retirement one more time. Austin, who last competed against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38, has previously been cautious about returns that don’t fit his physical capabilities.
Austin recently said he could have one more match, but he’s not going to push for it.
According to Nick LoPiccolo (who works for Paradigm Talent Agency, where a number of WWE stars are signed), WWE will receive $250 million from Saudi Arabia for WrestleMania 43 and $100 million for Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh. That would be a combined $350 million for just two events.
Saudi Arabia normally pays $50 million per PLE to WWE, but since these are the “Big 4” PLEs, they obviously will cost more.
Also Read: Surprising Reason For SmackDown Wrestler’s Absence
