Drew McIntyre made a stunning announcement on the December 26 episode of WWE SmackDown, revealing he will face Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match for the Undisputed WWE Championship on January 9, 2026, in Berlin, Germany.
The rare stipulation marks the first Three Stages of Hell match in over 12 years and only the sixth in WWE history. McIntyre earned the right to choose the stipulation as part of his reinstatement deal with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis after being suspended for attacking referee Dan Engler with a Claymore.
Before making the announcement, McIntyre attempted to provoke Rhodes by making personal jabs about his family. When Rhodes tried to confront him, Aldis physically restrained the champion, warning that any physical contact would result in Rhodes being stripped of the title. After revealing the match stipulation, McIntyre crossed the line by telling Rhodes, "When I send you straight to hell, say hi to your dad for me!"
The comment about Dusty Rhodes pushed Cody over the edge. He shoved Aldis aside, but walked directly into a Claymore Kick from McIntyre.
The match will take place at the Uber Arena in Berlin on SmackDown's first three-hour episode of 2026. A Three Stages of Hell match requires one competitor to win two out of three falls, with each fall contested under different match stipulations. The specific stipulations for Rhodes vs. McIntyre have not yet been announced.
Previous Three Stages of Hell matches include Triple H vs. Steve Austin (2001), Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (2002), Triple H vs. Randy Orton (2009), John Cena vs. Ryback (2013), and Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole (2019).