• Backstage News On Drew McIntyre Becoming The WWE Champion
In the main event of SmackDown in Berlin, Germany, Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes 2-1 in their 3 Stages of Hell match to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.
The first stage was a normal wrestling match. Drew low-blowed Cody behind the referee’s back and picked up the win. The second stage was a Falls Count Anywhere match, where Cody hit Drew with a Cross Rhodes on top of the announce table to pick up the win.
During the third stage, which was a steel cage match, Jacob Fatu returned and stopped Drew from escaping the cage. Jacob entered the ring to attack Drew. Cody tried to stop Jacob, but Jacob attacked Cody as well. While Cody and Jacob were brawling, Drew escaped the cage to win.
Drew McIntyre wins the WWE Championshippic.twitter.com/6Yg0IbjjIK
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) January 9, 2026
According to Bodyslam, Cody and Drew went to WWE management before the match and pitched this finish, as they believed a title change was needed in such a high profile bout.
Drew’s first televised title defense will be at the Royal Rumble. General Manager Nick Aldis announced the following 4 qualifying matches for next week’s SmackDown in London:
– Randy Orton vs. The Miz
– Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
– Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
– Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov
The winners of these matches will compete in a Fatal 4-Way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Winner of that match will face Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia on January 31.
• Former WWE Performer Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison
A long legal battle has come to an end for Evan Cloyd, a former wrestler known on the independent circuit as Jarek 1:20. In a Houston, Texas courtroom on January 8, 2026, Cloyd was sentenced to 15 years in prison, according to PWInsider. The heavy sentence follows his guilty plea to a serious charge involving the aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14.
Cloyd had been in the legal system since his initial arrest in March 2024. Before his legal troubles began, he was a well-known figure in the wrestling world, performing for several popular promotions. His career included matches for CZW, EVOLVE, and Beyond Wrestling. He even had a brief moment on the big stage, appearing on WWE television in 2016 as “Chase Silver” in a match against Braun Strowman on RAW. He also auditioned for WWE Tough Enough in 2015.
Outside of the wrestling ring, Cloyd also found success as a street magician and grew a significant following on YouTube. However, his professional life effectively ended years ago, with his last recorded match taking place in 2019. Now, the 15-year prison term marks the final chapter for the former performer as he begins serving his time for the felony conviction.
