Drew Mcintyre loses Undisputed WWE Title as Cody Rhodes retakes gold on SmackDown
drew mcintyre was dethroned on SmackDown on March 6, 2026, as Cody Rhodes reclaimed the Undisputed WWE Championship in Portland, Oregon. The title change unfolded on Friday night at the Moda Center, with WrestleMania implications immediately rippling through the show’s biggest storylines. The win places Rhodes back on top while challengers and contenders began lining up before the WrestleMania stage.
Title changes hands in Portland as the Road to WrestleMania accelerates
WWE framed the night as the Road to WrestleMania “sped into overdrive, ” and the headline moment matched that billing: Cody Rhodes reclaimed the Undisputed WWE Championship from drew mcintyre. The match included multiple disruptions, including two referees going down, before the closing sequence swung in Rhodes’ favor.
Jacob Fatu factored into the finish after McIntyre’s frustration escalated and he went looking for a chair. Fatu intervened, stopping the chair attempt and opening the window for Rhodes to hit a top-rope Cody Cutter, then finish with Cross Rhodes to secure the championship.
The match also featured an announce table spot that did not go as planned, forcing an on-the-fly adjustment: Rhodes was later powerbombed through a wooden table. The bout remained a singles title match, with no disqualification called despite the chaotic moments described during the contest.
Randy Orton’s WrestleMania focus sharpens after the main event
Even before the championship match fallout settled, Randy Orton’s intentions were clearly laid out. WWE stated that Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton vowed to walk out of WrestleMania with the WWE Undisputed WWE Title, making the championship picture the central thread running through the night.
Orton also had a physical message for Trick Williams, delivering an RKO after making it clear he intends to leave WrestleMania as champion. The moment underscored Orton’s focus as the title picture shifts around him.
Immediate reactions: WWE stakes out contenders across the card
SmackDown’s championship churn extended beyond the main event. WWE confirmed that Damian Priest and R-Truth won a Tag Team Turmoil Match to become No. 1 Contenders to WWE Tag Team Champions The MFTs, adding another high-stakes match to the WrestleMania runway.
In women’s tag team action, WWE noted that The Irresistible Forces celebrated winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title from Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, only for new challengers to arrive. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, along with Giulia and Kiana James, stepped up to stake their claim. Later, Flair and Bliss defeated Giulia and Kiana James, positioning themselves as the team looking to challenge the new champions.
WWE also reported a United States Title Match result: Carmelo Hayes defeated El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. after landing Nothing But Net, continuing the show’s theme of championship stakes and momentum swings.
Quick context
The March 6, 2026 SmackDown was presented as a major pivot point on the Road to WrestleMania, with the Undisputed WWE Championship at the center of the night. The show also advanced contender races in both the tag team and women’s tag team divisions.
What’s next after drew mcintyre drops the title
With the championship now back in Cody Rhodes’ hands, the next developments hinge on who steps forward in the immediate aftermath and how Randy Orton’s WrestleMania vow collides with the new titleholder’s reign. SmackDown’s March 6 shocker leaves drew mcintyre out of the top spot for the moment, while the road ahead tightens around the Undisputed WWE Championship picture as WrestleMania nears.
