The American Nightmare has officially reclaimed the mountaintop of the industry. Cody Rhodes is now a three-time WWE Champion, and his historic WrestleMania 42 match is finally set. Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre to win the title in a chaotic main event on the March 6 episode of Friday Night SmackDown in Portland, Oregon.
The match was a physical back-and-forth encounter that saw both men push each other to the absolute limit. After an initial referee bump left the official unconscious, Rhodes was forced to bring in a second referee for a close near-fall. But after Rhodes managed to kick out of one of McIntyre’s signature maneuvers, the frustrated champion laid out the second official with a thunderous headbutt.
McIntyre briefly left the ring and re-entered with a steel chair, intending to end the match by any means necessary. However, as he prepared to use the weapon, the dangerous Jacob Fatu suddenly emerged from the crowd and yanked the chair away. This brief but vital distraction allowed Rhodes to recover and execute a devastating super cutter.
Rhodes then successfully pinned McIntyre after a series of Cross Rhodes to secure the three-count. With this massive victory, it is now official that he will be defending the title against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. Orton earned his opportunity by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Chicago last month.
The Apex Predator was quick to react to the news on social media. He shared a video of himself watching the championship change from his home, nodding in approval at his future opponent. The two share a storied history dating back to their time together in the Legacy faction, adding an intense personal layer to the upcoming stadium clash.
The sudden title match was made over the weekend after McIntyre interfered yet again in Rhodes’ affairs. This prompted an angry Nick Aldis to enter the post-show panel area and announce the championship match for Friday. The decision led to a physical shouting match between the General Manager and the now-former champion.
McIntyre originally defeated Rhodes in a grueling Three Stages of Hell match on the January 9 edition of SmackDown to win the gold. During that contest, a returning Jacob Fatu entered the cage and began a brawl that ultimately cost Rhodes the title. Now that the gold has returned to the American Nightmare, the focus shifts to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18 and 19, 2026, for one of the most anticipated main events in years.
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