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Drew McIntyre Wins Undisputed Championship On WWE Smackdown, Jacob Fatu Returns

January 9, 2026 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
Drew McIntyre WWE Smackdown 1-9-26 Image Credit: WWE

Drew McIntyre is the new WWE Undisputed Champion, winning the title on this week’s WWE Smackdown thanks to an unintended assist from a returning Jacob Fatu. McIntyre battled Cody Rhodes for the title in a Three Stages of Hell match on Friday’s show. McIntyre won the first fall in a standard match. The finish came when McIntyre held onto the turnbuckle to block a German suplex by Rhodes. He removed the turnbuckle bad and hit a low blow, followed by the Claymore for a pinfall.

Rhodes won the second fall, a Falls Count Anywhere match, after hitting a Cross Rhodes onto the announce table. The final fall was a Steel Cage match and McIntyre was about to escape when Fatu returned and pushed the referee down. He headbutted McIntyre, but Rhodes pulled him away. Fatu went after Rhodes and McIntyre crawled to the door, falling to the floor to win the match. You can see highlights from the bout below.

This marks McIntyre’s third reign with the championship. He ends Rhodes’ second title reign at 159 days; Rhodes won the title from John Cena at WWE SummerSlam.

McIntyre posted to Twitter after the match, sharing a photo of himself with the title and writing:

“No longer bored at work”

McIntyre will now defend the title at the Royal Rumble against the winnner of a Fatal Four-Way to take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24th. The Rumble takes place on January 31st from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and airs live on the ESPN Unlimited app and Netflix internationally.

https://twitter.com/USANetwork/status/2009839620650110978

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Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu, WWE Smackdown, Jeremy Thomas

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