Drew McIntyre believes his Undisputed WWE Championship win over Cody Rhodes in January gave him the legitimacy he needed while simultaneously helping Rhodes regain his competitive edge. McIntyre defeated Rhodes on the January 9, 2026, episode of WWE SmackDown in a shocking upset that few saw coming.
Speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, McIntyre reflected on what the title reign meant for both superstars. His reign lasted just under two months before Rhodes recaptured the championship on the March 6, 2026, episode of SmackDown in Portland, Oregon.
McIntyre on Shaking Up SmackDown
"Nobody saw it coming, for one. I think everybody assumed that the Cody Express would keep moving on forward," McIntyre said. "After he finished the story, he was on fire. I'm not saying he wasn't doing a great job. He's a great champion, he's a great performer, but it was a lot of the same."
McIntyre explained that the title change put Rhodes in a chase position, which gave the current champion back some of his edge. "It put Cody in a position where he had to chase. Gave Cody a bit of that edge back, which he, in my opinion, desperately needed," he stated.
Legitimacy and the Gollum Approach
"For me, it gave me some of that legitimacy. 'Oh yeah, Drew can win the big one,' and not going to be so sympathetic that we need to start cheering for this guy if you feel so bad for him," McIntyre continued. He described his approach to defending the title as possessive, comparing himself to Gollum from Lord of the Rings.
"I'm Gollum from Lord of the Rings. This is my precious. I'm not letting this go, no matter what," he said. McIntyre noted that his heel persona as champion made SmackDown more compelling, with multiple challengers targeting him not just for the title but because of his attitude.
Celebrating in Glasgow
McIntyre won the championship in Berlin and celebrated the following night in Glasgow with his family in attendance.
"I tell Scotland, I promised you would bring you the championship, and I brought you the championship, and the only ever, not just Scotland person to do it, but British person to do it," he said.
McIntyre faces Jacob Fatu in an unsanctioned match at WrestleMania 42, while Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton at the same event.
