The shocking Undisputed Title change on the January 9 episode of WWE SmackDown wasn’t just a creative whim, it was a strategic pivot fueled by the superstars themselves.
New reports reveal that Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes were both instrumental in the decision to move the Undisputed WWE Championship to The Scottish Psychopath just months before WrestleMania 42.
According to the Wrestling Observer, the final call to make the title change and scrap the previous WrestleMania roadmap was made a mere 48 hours before the match took place.
Drew McIntyre was reportedly very vocal behind the scenes, arguing that a title change was the best move for the entire locker room and the fans. Surprisingly, Cody Rhodes agreed. Rhodes felt that heading into Las Vegas as a challenger – the “chaser” – would be a much fresher and more compelling story than defending the title for a second consecutive year.
WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H reportedly took a hard look at the original plan – a third Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes main event – and worried about “audience fatigue.” He wanted to avoid a predictable build and opted for a “monkey wrench” to keep fans guessing. Rhodes himself consulted with leadership, questioning if he would be more valuable to the company chasing the gold. Ultimately, everyone agreed that a new direction was needed.
As for the Original Tribal Chief, the Wrestling Observer reports that Roman Reigns may currently be the “odd man out” regarding the championship picture. While he is expected to return at Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia on January 31, he may not be involved in the WWE Title match in Las Vegas. Instead, WWE is currently weighing two main options for WrestleMania 42:
1. A high-stakes Triple Threat match featuring Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
2. A direct one-on-one rematch between McIntyre and Rhodes for the WWE Title.
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