The TV schedule for 2026 is starting to fill up, and January already has some exciting events. While wrestling fans can usually record SmackDown and watch it later, tonight’s episode is special. There’s talk of a major championship changing hands, and you won’t want to miss it live!
According to Bodyslam+, there’s growing support within WWE for Drew McIntyre to defeat Cody Rhodes in their upcoming Three Stages of Hell Match (as reported by Sports Illustrated). This is significant because the match is for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – one of the company’s top titles – and a win for McIntyre would mean a championship change on television. While it’s surprising, I think it’s a possibility for a couple of reasons.
Drew McIntyre Is Past Due For A Big Win
Drew McIntyre has earned his spot as a top performer, consistently delivering great matches. However, despite his talent, he hasn’t often held the championship title. He’s faced a lot of setbacks, including losing in front of his home crowd and having championship opportunities quickly snatched away.
While WWE results aren’t always critical for the wrestlers themselves, they significantly impact how fans view them. If Drew McIntyre consistently faces strong opponents but loses, it’s hard to see him as a top star. We’ve seen this happen before, with Bray Wyatt, where fans eventually stopped believing he could win a major championship. To maintain a credible threat, Drew needs victories. Beating Cody Rhodes in a tough match for the title, even on regular TV instead of a pay-per-view event, would be a big step in the right direction.
With SmackDown Moving Back To 3 Hours, It’s Time To Make A Big Splash
Currently, SmackDown has returned to a three-hour format on USA Network. This timing is ideal, as WWE is building important storylines leading up to WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. However, to make the longer show worthwhile, WWE needs to deliver consistently exciting content and stand out from other entertainment options available at the start of the year.
More On The WWE
The recent WWE episode featuring characters from Stranger Things had some good moments, but I was pretty disappointed with one aspect of it.
I’m focusing on live sports – right now, we’re in the middle of college and NFL playoffs, plus the peak of the NBA and NHL seasons. With so much competing live content, wrestling needs a strong draw, and suggesting a major event will happen during a live broadcast is a great way to get fans to tune in.
Drew McIntyre winning the championship is a huge surprise, and it makes me really think about what WWE has planned for WrestleMania 42. I’ve been fooled by predictions of his victory before, so I’m still a little skeptical. But maybe this time, WWE will actually go through with it. I’ll be watching to see what happens.
Tonight’s SmackDown will be broadcast live on USA Network from Berlin at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Hopefully, the show lives up to the hype, and the pre-show reports aren’t misleading this time.
Read More
- Sony Removes Resident Evil Copy Ebola Village Trailer from YouTube
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Can You Visit Casino Sites While Using a VPN?
- Michael B. Jordan Almost Changed His Name Due to NBA’s Michael Jordan
- The Night Manager season 2 episode 3 first-look clip sees steamy tension between Jonathan Pine and a new love interest
- Lies of P 2 Team is “Fully Focused” on Development, But NEOWIZ Isn’t Sharing Specifics
- Crunchyroll Confirms Packed Dub Lineup for January 2026
- New Look at Sam Raimi’s Return to Horror After 17 Years Drops Ahead of Release: Watch The Trailer
- AKIBA LOST launches September 17
2026-01-09 22:08