• Internal WWE Reaction To Drew McIntyre’s Undisputed Title Win
Drew McIntyre winning the Undisputed WWE Championship was the result of weeks of internal conviction that the move needed to happen.
Behind the scenes, there was a strong belief that McIntyre had to walk out of the 3 Stages of Hell match on SmackDown with the Undisputed WWE Title if the company wanted him viewed as a serious threat in the main event scene.
Speaking after the show, Sean Ross Sapp noted that many within WWE felt McIntyre’s credibility as the lead star depended on a victory in a match of that magnitude. The sense internally was that anything less would have undercut the push they’re aiming to sustain through WrestleMania 42 season.
The finish itself also wasn’t imposed from above. As previously reported by Bodyslam, McIntyre and Rhodes were the ones who brought the idea to WWE officials ahead of time. The plan included the surprise involvement of Jacob Fatu inside the steel cage, a twist designed to add chaos and instantly reset the main event picture.
The result was a title change that checked every box WWE was looking for: impact and shock value on the road to WrestleMania 42.
Also Read: Update On What’s Next In The WWE Title Picture
• WWE Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Deceptive Marketing for ESPN Launch
A significant legal challenge has been launched against WWE, as fans have filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The lawsuit, which was first reported by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics and POST Wrestling, centers on allegations that WWE and its media partners engaged in deceptive marketing practices during the recent move of Premium Live Events (PLEs) to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform.
According to the legal filing, plaintiffs Michael Diesa of New Jersey and Rebecca Toback of New York claim that WWE used a “bait and switch” tactic. The core of the complaint focuses on an August 6, 2025, press release which stated that WWE content would be available to fans who watch on the ESPN app “whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package”. However, when the service launched in September 2025, many customers with providers like Xfinity found they still had to pay an additional $29.99 per month for the “ESPN Unlimited” tier to access WWE events like Wrestlepalooza.
The lawsuit points to specific comments from WWE President Nick Khan, who previously stated on the Varsity podcast that there would be “no upcharge” for fans following the move to ESPN. Thurston notes that the lawsuit strategically names WWE as the sole defendant, intentionally omitting ESPN and its parent company, Disney. This move is reportedly designed to bypass the strict arbitration and class action waiver clauses found in Disney’s standard subscriber agreements, which often prevent consumers from taking such matters to a public court.
The plaintiffs are seeking to represent all U.S. customers who were forced to pay for the direct-to-consumer service while already being traditional ESPN subscribers. While the individual damages for a single month’s subscription (roughly $30) are small, the total exposure for WWE could be substantial given the size of the affected audience. Neither WWE nor ESPN has yet issued an official comment on the pending litigation.
