Drew McIntyre Defends Title Against Cody Rhodes on SmackDown

WWE's Undisputed Championship match at WrestleMania 42 still to be determined

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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This week's episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown will feature a title match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, with the Undisputed Championship at stake. McIntyre interfered in Rhodes' Elimination Chamber match, leading to this showdown. The winner of this match will determine one of the participants in the WrestleMania 42 main event for the Undisputed title.

Why it matters

The Undisputed Championship match at WrestleMania 42 is still up in the air, with several top superstars vying for the opportunity. This match between McIntyre and Rhodes could determine one of the competitors, setting the stage for a potentially star-studded title match at the biggest event of the year.

The details

Drew McIntyre will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes on this week's episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The match comes after McIntyre interfered in Rhodes' Elimination Chamber match, causing him to be eliminated and setting up this title showdown. The winner of this match will likely go on to face the winner of the Men's Elimination Chamber match, Randy Orton, at WrestleMania 42 for the Undisputed Championship.

  • The Elimination Chamber pay-per-view took place on February 28, 2026.
  • This week's episode of Friday Night SmackDown will air on March 6, 2026.

The players

Drew McIntyre

The current Undisputed WWE Champion, who has held the title since defeating Randy Orton at the Royal Rumble.

Cody Rhodes

A former AEW star who returned to WWE in 2023 and has been on a quest to win the Undisputed Championship.

Randy Orton

The winner of the Men's Elimination Chamber match, who will likely face the winner of the McIntyre vs. Rhodes match at WrestleMania 42.

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What they’re saying

“Having Jacob Fatu interfere in this match and cost Rhodes the title would set up a star-studded WrestleMania match between Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Jacob Fatu.”

— Ryan Wohl, Author (draftkings.com)

What’s next

The winner of the McIntyre vs. Rhodes match will go on to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

The takeaway

This match between McIntyre and Rhodes is a crucial step in determining the main event of WrestleMania 42, with the Undisputed Championship on the line. The outcome could set the stage for a potentially star-studded title match at the biggest event of the year.