Tag: wwe championship

WWE Championship match official for Clash in Italy

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Gunther is ready for Clash in Italy.

It was made official on Friday’s SmackDown that Gunther will challenge Cody Rhodes after defeating Royce Keys in an impromptu number one contender’s match. As a result, he will now officially challenge Rhodes in Turin on May 31.

Rhodes came to the ring Friday holding the contract that was given to him by Heyman last week. Rhodes demanded Gunther arrive to sign it, ready to defend the title later this month. The former World Heavyweight Champion came out and instead played games, asking Rhodes to say please. Keys interrupted the proceedings and told Gunther if he wasn’t going to sign it, he would. The two argued over who was going to sign until Nick Aldis interrupted, setting up the main event.

The finish of the main event saw Solo Sikoa arrive and introduce a steel chair to the match despite Keys telling Sikoa earlier in he show he didn’t want his help. Keys proceeded to throw the chair at Sikoa’s head, sending him out to the floor. Gunther cut off Keys and pinned him following a powerbomb.

Another match seemed to be made for Turin, as Jade Cargill said she would be taking the WWE Women’s title back from Rhea Ripley at Clash in Italy. However, the match has yet to be confirmed. What was confirmed was a six-woman tag team match for Saturday Night’s Main Event which will see Cargill team with Michin and B-Fab to take on Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss.

WWE Clash in Italy (May 31)

  • WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes defends against Gunther

Cody Rhodes takes back WWE title, trashes The Pat McAfee Show studio

Posted on by Ian Carey

Cody Rhodes has taken back the WWE Championship belt.

On WWE SmackDown on Friday night, Pat McAfee had left with the title following his and Randy Orton’s segment with Rhodes.

On Thursday, The Pat McAfee Show opened with McAfee explaining that Rhodes had entered their studio the previous evening, trashed the set, and took back the WWE Championship belt.

McAfee said on the show:

“A person whose self-proclaimed name is the American Nightmare, is just that. He’s a criminal. Last night, obviously, something devastating happened to our entire Thunderdome.”

McAfee then played security footage that showed Rhodes trashing the studio, spiking a computer on the ground, and retrieving the title belt before leaving.

McAfee continues:

“And on his way out, while DaBone is doing nothing yet again, he spikes my computer, my only computer. So Cody just walks out, no problem. Then he goes on Instagram and posts a video of himself leaving, playing my song while boarding a plane.”

McAfee will be in Randy Orton’s corner at WWE WrestleMania 42 this weekend as Orton looks to win his 15th world title against Rhodes. He was revealed two weeks ago as the person Orton had been speaking to on the phone in recent weeks. McAfee has also been telling the storyline that WrestleMania ticket sales are down due to wrestlers such as Rhodes.

McAfee discussing Rhodes trashing their studio and taking back the WWE Championship belt is available in the clip below:

Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes WWE title match booked for next SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes will meet after all. 

Nick Aldis confronted McIntyre in the moments following the Elimination Chamber PLE, upset that McIntyre had interfered in order to avoid having to face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania. A few minutes later, Aldis stormed into the post-show panel area and announced that McIntyre would be defending the WWE Championship against Rhodes on this Friday’s SmackDown. As Aldis started to leave McIntyre emerged, arguing with the SmackDown GM over his decision.

The final moments of the men’s Elimination Chamber match had Seth Rollins sneak in and attack Logan Paul, leading to his elimination. That was when McIntyre entered the cage and started to attack Rhodes. Randy Orton interjected himself into their situation laid out Drew with the RKO as Cody followed with the crossroads. But as Cody got up he too ate an RKO and was pinned.

McIntyre won the WWE Championship from Rhodes on the January 9 edition of SmackDown. In the weeks since, McIntyre has routinely interfered in Rhodes’ attempts to get back into the title picture, including interfering in the former WWE Champion’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match. That backfired as Rhodes won anyway, setting the stage for Saturday.

WWE SmackDown (March 6)

  • WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre defends against Cody Rhodes
  • Number one contender’s match for WWE Tag Team titles
  • Nia Jax & Lash Legend championship celebration

Two matches official for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two matches are now set for next week’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Next Saturday’s show in Montreal will see Trick Williams, Sami Zayn, Randy Orton, and Damian Priest battle it out to determine the next number one contender for Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship. Orton defeated The Miz to advance, while Williams defeated Matt Cardona and Priest pinned Solo Sikoa.

The end of Friday’s show saw Sami Zayn win his slot in the four-way that will take place in his hometown, defeating Ilja Dragunov. The show didn’t end with a happy ending, however, as Williams emerged and jumped Zayn from behind, laying him out with the Trick shot to end the show.

Another match was made official when it was confirmed on Friday that Cody Rhodes would meet Jacob Fatu, who inadvertently cost Rhodes the WWE Championship on last week’s SmackDown. Fatu had set his sights on Drew McIntyre, jumping him inside the steel cage. When Rhodes tried to intervene, Fatu responded by attacking Rhodes instead. McIntyre used the distraction to escape and win the match.

On SmackDown, Fatu told Rhodes to come out and face him if he had a problem. The two ended up getting into a brawl that had to be separated by security.

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event (January 24)

  • Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu
  • Number one contender’s match for WWE Championship: Damian Priest vs. Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams

WWE title number one contendership qualifying matches set for next week’s SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match for the number one contendership for the WWE Championship is set for Saturday Night’s Main Event, with qualifying matches set for next week’s SmackDown.

Prior to Friday’s main event, Nick Aldis announced that four qualifying matches will take place on next week’s SmackDown in London. The winners of those matches will then advance to Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24. The winner of that match will then face the WWE Champion at this year’s Royal Rumble, which takes place on January 31 in Saudi Arabia.

The four qualifying matches on next week’s SmackDown features Randy Orton squaring off against The Miz, Trick Williams facing Matt Cardona, Damian Priest wrestling Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn competing against Ilja Dragunov. 

In the main event of Friday’s show, Drew McIntyre won the WWE Championship after defeating Cody Rhodes. Jacob Fatu interfered at the end of the third fall in the Three Stages of Hell match, laying out McIntyre and also Rhodes once he tried to intervene. Rhodes and Fatu exchanged blows in the corner as McIntyre escaped from the cage, winning his third WWE Championship.

WWE SmackDown (January 16):

  • SNME number one contendership qualifying match: Randy Orton vs. The Miz
  • SNME number one contendership qualifying match: Solo Sikoa vs. Damian Priest
  • SNME number one contendership qualifying match: Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
  • SNME number one contendership qualifying match: Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov

Drew McIntyre wins WWE title on SmackDown after returning wrestler interferes

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Drew McIntyre is the WWE Champion.

The shock conclusion to the end of Friday’s SmackDown saw McIntyre and Cody Rhodes tied 1-1 in the Three Stages of Hell match. McIntyre was looking to crawl out of the steel cage door when he saw a hooded figure standing in his path. They eventually revealed themselves to be Jacob Fatu, returning from injury. McIntyre attempted to flee but was taken out quickly. But suddenly, as Rhodes attempted to intervene, Fatu attacked him as well. The two battled in the corner as McItnyre recovered and slowly crawled out the door, landing on the ground to win his third WWE Championship.

After the match, Cody recovered and threw Fatu into the steel cage in anger. But all he could do from there was stare at the new champion recovering on the entrance ramp as SmackDown went off the air.

Following his WWE title win, Drew McIntyre posted a simple message on social media: “No longer bored at work.” The post is a play on two other posts McIntyre wrote during matches he was wrestling in.

McIntyre and Rhodes had spent most of the fall and winter feuding over the WWE Championship, with Rhodes emerging victorious each time. After McIntyre was suspended for attacking a WWE referee, Rhodes insisted he be brought back, even resorting to brawling with McIntyre at his own house. McIntyre agreed to the stipulations in order to return to the active roster and get his championship rematch but continued to go the personal route, wearing Cody’s gold watch his father gave him prior to their match on Friday.

Stipulations set for Three Stages of Hell match on next week’s WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Stipulations for the Three Stages of Hell match are now set.

During SmackDown, Cody Rhodes attempted to look for Drew McIntyre backstage but to no avail. It wasn’t until Rhodes was in the ring when McIntyre revealed himself backstage near Rhodes’ bus. He then revealed the three stipulations for their WWE Championship match that will take place on next week’s SmackDown in Berlin. The first will be a straight wrestling match, and the second fall will be falls count anywhere. The third fall, if need be, will be a steel cage match.

Of course, McIntyre did not end things there as he continued to taunt Rhodes into attacking him, which would have led to Rhodes being stripped of the WWE Championship. McIntyre revealed he was in Rhodes’ bus earlier and had taken a picture of himself and his father from when Cody was just starting in WWE. McIntyre took the framed picture and smashed it on the ground as Rhodes stormed to the back in search of McIntyre.

But when McIntyre emerged, he was in the ring with the picture and a lighter. An enraged Rhodes headed back to ringisde but was restrained by security as McIntrye lit the picture on fire and threw it into a trash can, further taunting Cody.

Also set for next week is an eight-man tag team match pitting the Wyatt Sicks against the MFTs. Trick Williams will also make his in-ring SmackDown debut taking on Rey Fenix following a confrontation that took place on Friday.

WWE SmackDown (January 9)

  • Three Stages of Hell for WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes defends against Drew McIntyre
  • Eight-man tag: Wyatt Sicks vs. The MFTs
  • Trick Williams vs. Rey Fenix

Date & stipulation revealed for Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre WWE title match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

It will be Three Stages of Hell in Berlin.

On Friday’s SmackDown, Drew McIntyre revealed that he had chosen the Three Stages of Hell stipulation for his upcoming WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes, which will take place on the January 9 edition of SmackDown in Berlin. That means the title will be defended in a 2 out of 3 falls match, with each fall being a different stipulation.

The main event segment on Friday’s taped show saw McIntyre come out to pay his fine and apologize to referee Dan Engler for laying him out with a Claymore kick. After his apology, however, McIntyre started to berate the referee, his comments becoming more personal until Rhodes came out to confront him. 

McIntyre shifted his attacks to Rhodes, getting even more personal in an attempt to provoke Rhodes into attacking him, which per the stipulations agreed to, would have seen Rhodes be stripped of the WWE Championship. Rhodes maintainted his composure until McIntyre uttered one last despicable line.

“When I torture you in Berlin, when I send you straight to hell…say hi to your dad for me,” McIntyre said.

Nick Aldis attempted to hold Rhodes back, but when Rhodes freed himself McIntyre took him out with a Claymore kick. The show ended with McIntyre holding the WWE Championship over a fallen Rhodes.

WWE SmackDown in Berlin (January 9)

  • Three Stages of Hell match for WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes defends against Drew McIntyre

New stipulation added to WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event title match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new stipulation has been added for Saturday’s WWE Championship match.

During SmackDown, Drew McIntyre assured Nick Aldis that everything was fine ahead of the Saturday Night’s Main Event contract signing in the main event. However, when the time came to sign, McIntyre refused. He stated that it was lopsided against him, pointing out in their last match that Rhodes was able to walk away with the title after a disqualification. Rhodes said if he wanted the rules changed so he could lose the title via DQ or count out, that was fine. Aldis warned Rhodes against doing this, but Rhodes insisted, wanting the title match to move forward.

After the two traded some more words, Rhodes finished his promo by saying nice guys finished last until he showed up. McIntyre refused to let Rhodes have the last word, bringing up Rhodes’ daughters. That caused Rhodes to go on the attack, aiming to strike McIntyre with the WWE title. McIntyre dodged and exited the ring as Aldis warned Rhodes doing something like that would cost him the title tomorrow. The distraction left an opening long enough for McItnyre to re-enter the ring and lay out Rhodes with the claymore. After a powerbomb through the table, McIntyre told Rhodes he’d be leaving with the title tomorrow.

Several weeks ago, McIntyre was set to wrestle Jacob Fatu in a number one contender’s match when Fatu was seen reeling from a backstage attack. McIntyre denied that he had anything to do with it. Rhodes came out and told McIntyre if he wanted a title match, he would give one to him. The two brawled for a while before the match officially began. However, it soon ended  when Rhodes used the WWE title to attack McIntyre, causing a disqualification.

Saturday Night’s Main Event (November 1)

  • WWE World Heavyweight title: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso
  • WWE Championship, title can change hands by DQ or count out: Cody Rhodes defends against Drew McIntyre
  • WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton defends against Jade Cargill
  • Three-way for WWE Intercontinental title: Dominik Mysterio defends against Penta and Rusev

WWE title match added to next Saturday Night’s Main Event

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new championship match is set for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Nick Aldis on social media Tuesday confirmed that Cody Rhodes would be defending the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre on November 1 in Salt Lake City. This follows an angle on SmackDown that saw the two brawl in an impromptu match.

A show-long storyline on Friday saw Aldis announce that McIntyre would meet Jacob Fatu in a number one contender’s match in the main event. However, as Fatu’s music played, it was soon revealed that he was laid out backstage, his mouth a bloody mess and what appeared to be teeth on the floor. McIntyre was pleased by what had happened but denied he had any involvement. 

Cody Rhodes then came out and said if McIntyre wanted a WWE title match, they would do it right now. The two brawled for a while before the bell rang. It never became clear if it was a a title match, however, as the match soon ended in a DQ after Rhodes laid out McIntyre with the WWE title.

Saturday Night’s Main Event (November 1)

  • WWE World Heavyweight title: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso
  • WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes defends against Drew McIntyre

Match official for WWE Wrestlepalooza, new SmackDown segment added

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The WWE Championship match for Wrestlepalooza is official.

During Raw, it was confirmed that Cody Rhodes would defend the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre this Saturday at WWE’s first-ever PLE on the ESPN app. This follows Rhodes’ return on SmackDown, where he not only took out Drew McIntyre but officially threw down the challenge for their upcoming WWE Championship match.

Additionally, it was announced that Rhodes would appear on Friday’s SmackDown, just one day prior to Wrestlepalooza.

Prior to Friday, Rhodes hadn’t been seen on television for over a month. Back in early August, McIntyre laid out Rhodes following a match and gave him a running dropkick on the outside, with Rhodes’ head crashing through the bottom of the announce table. The storyline injury took place so Rhodes could film his part for the upcoming ‘Street Fighter’ movie out next year.

On SmackDown, McIntyre continued to assault Randy Orton after their match when Rhodes made his return, laying out McIntyre with a Cody cutter.

Here are the updated lineups for this Friday’s SmackDown and the following day’s Wrestlepalooza PLE:

WWE SmackDown (September 19)

  • United States Champion Sami Zayn defends against Carmelo Hayes
  • Cody Rhodes will appear

WWE Wrestlepalooza (September 20)

  • John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
  • WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Drew McIntyre
  • Women’s World Championship: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
  • CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
  • Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker vs. The Usos

WWE star returns on SmackDown, issues challenge for Wrestlepalooza

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Cody Rhodes is back, and he has already thrown down a challenge.

In the main event of Friday’s SmackDown, Drew McIntyre scored a win over Randy Orton after connecting with the claymore. After the match, McIntyre continued to attack Orton until Cody Rhodes came down for the save, making his return after being gone for over a month. As McIntyre retreated to the entranceway, Rhodes announced he was back and threw down the challenge for Wrestlepalooza on September 20.

Back in early August, Rhodes and McIntyre were fighting outside of the ring when McIntyre took out Rhodes and proceeded to send him head first through the announcer’s table with a running dropkick. The injury angle took place so Rhodes could film the upcoming ‘Street Fighter’ movie.

The updated card for Wrestlepalooza:

WWE Wrestlepalooza (September 20)

  • John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
  • WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Drew McIntyre (challenge issued)
  • Women’s World Championship: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
  • CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
  • Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker vs. The Usos

Cody Rhodes defeats John Cena for WWE Championship at SummerSlam

Posted on by Josh Nason

Despite a spirited effort that evoked memories of a different era, John Cena could not win the big one at Sunday’s WWE SummerSlam, losing the undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes in the street fight main event.

The end came when Rhodes connected on a Cross Rhodes following an avalanche Cody Cutter to pick up the pin and win, regaining the title he lost to Cena at this past April’s WrestleMania.

The two embraced after the match with Rhodes getting visibly emotional with this being Cena’s final SummerSlam before retirement. Cena remained in the ring after Rhodes departed, soaking in “Thank You Cena” chants. That was, until, Brock Lesnar made his surprise return to lay Cena out.

**********

The story of the match was the resiliency of Cena. Three specific sequences include him kicking out of several consecutive Cross Rhodes, kicking out of being hit with an exposed turnbuckle twice before countering a third attempt into an STFU, and kicking out after being put through a table followed by a Cross Rhodes.

Rhodes was resilient as well, surviving an AA from the Spanish announce table through the English announce table, a top rope leg drop from the top rope into an AA, and being carried on Cena’s back from the “Codyvator” through the stage into an AA on the ramp.

**********

The beginning of the end was when a desperate Rhodes ran out to grab the title belt, but Cena avoided a shot and hit Rhodes with consecutive AAs and tossed the belt, confirming his turn back to being a face was legit. He then perched Rhodes on the top rope and hit an avalanche AA that Rhodes kicked out of.

Cena then got a table and put Rhodes back on the top rope. Cena went for a second avalanche AA, but Rhodes elbowed him in the face and moved into position for the avalanche Cody Cutter through a table. He then got teary, saluted Cena, hit a Cross Rhodes, and got a pin.

Rhodes’ win begins his second title run and ends the 105-day Cena reign that saw him successfully defend the gold just twice.

New title matches & stipulation set for WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new stipulation and two title matches are now set for SummerSlam.

The end of Friday’s SmackDown saw John Cena and Cody Rhodes come out for their SummerSlam contract signing ahead of August 2 & 3. However, Cena attempted to throw off Rhodes by announcing that he wasn’t going to defend the title at SummerSlam as he was going to film a movie and instead offered to do it in Paris or in Perth, the site of future WWE PLEs. 

Cena attempted to leave but Rhodes attacked him instead. The two fought over the WWE title, with Rhodes grabbing the title and this time smacking Cena with it, unlike WrestleMania where he hesitated. After putting Cena through a table, he announced that the SummerSlam match would be a street fight.

Solo Sikoa will defend the United States title against Jacob Fatu in a steel cage match. A show-long storyline saw Sikoa implicate Fatu in a car accident that opened Friday’s show. After the police cleared Fatu of any wrongdoing, he stormed to the ring and sent Sikoa and the MFT in retreat. That is where Adam Pearce announced the title match for next month.

The segment ended with the police coming out and, in a twist, arrested Sioka.

It was also revealed on Friday that Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss would be getting a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles in Detroit. Flair gained momentum for her team by defeating Raquel Rodriguez in a match thanks to help from Bliss on the outside.

WWE SummerSlam 2025 —

  • Street fight: Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena defends against Cody Rhodes
  • World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against CM Punk
  • WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Jade Cargill
  • Women’s World Champion Naomi defends against IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Lyra Valkyria
  • Steel cage: United States Champion Solo Sikoa defends against Jacob Fatu
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team titles: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
  • Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul

John Cena vs. Randy Orton WWE title match official for Backlash

Posted on by Bryan Rose

John Cena and Randy Orton are going to meet once more.

During SmackDown, the two longtime rivals met face-to-face once more after Orton laid out Cena with an RKO on the Raw immediately following WrestleMania. Orton accused Cena of letting down children who believed in his words growing up as Cena said all he did was raise people’s children on his own. Orton said he wouldn’t allow Cena to ruin wrestling, challenging him to a WWE title match right then and there in Fort Worth, Texas. Cena refused, saying he wouldn’t defend it on SmackDown but would do it in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis at Backlash next month.

The segment ended with Cena cheapshotting Orton, throwing the WWE title at him and attacking him with mounted punches on the ground. He looked to use the WWE title to strike Orton, who instead dodged and laid out Cena with his second RKO of the week.

Cena won the championship from Cody Rhodes during the main event of the second night of WrestleMania. A distraction by Travis Scott allowed Cena to bring in the title to strike Rhodes, who entered into a tug of war with Cena over the title. Rhodes hesitated on striking Cena long enough for Cena to low blow Rhodes and strike him with the title for his record-breaking seventeenth title reign.

WWE Backlash – May 10, 2025 in St. Louis, Missouri

  • WWE Championship: John Cena defends against Randy Orton