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Drew McIntyre Fights for WWE Championship in Three Stages of Hell Match

2026-06-25 · Drew McIntyre · Match Report

Drew McIntyre will face Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship in a Three Stages of Hell match on January 9. This match type hasn't been used on the main roster in over a decade.

A Three Stages of Hell match is a 2-out-of-3 falls match with a twist, where each fall is contested under a different stipulation. The first wrestler to win two falls takes the match.

The last Three Stages of Hell match on the main roster was in 2013, when John Cena defeated Ryback for the WWE Championship at Payback. This match featured a lumberjack match, a tables match, and an ambulance match as its three stages.

The January 9 match will be the second three-hour SmackDown of the New Year, and it will take place in Berlin. Drew McIntyre has been a menace to Cody Rhodes over the past few months, and this feels like a real opportunity for McIntyre to get his hands on the title.

The stakes are high for this match, as the winner will be one step closer to solidifying their position as the top champion in the WWE. The crowd in Berlin is expected to be loud and raucous, adding to the intensity of the match.

Drew McIntyre will need to win two out of three falls under different conditions to become the new WWE Champion. The match will feature a different stipulation for each fall, with the stipulations escalating in intensity and violence as the match progresses.

The WWE is reviving the Three Stages of Hell stipulation after roughly 11 years, which shows how serious they are about this rivalry. Triple H, who has been in three of the previous six Three Stages of Hell matches, is likely behind the decision to bring back this stipulation.

The January 9 match will be a defining moment in the feud between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. With the WWE Championship on the line, both men will be giving it their all to emerge victorious.

The Three Stages of Hell match is designed to definitively end a feud, with no excuses and no fluke victories. The winner will need to win twice under different conditions, making it a true test of endurance and skill.

Drew McIntyre is looking to capitalize on his momentum and become the new WWE Champion. With his intense rivalry with Cody Rhodes reaching a boiling point, this match is shaping up to be one of the most exciting of the year.

The WWE Championship picture will be heavily impacted by the result of this match. A win for Drew McIntyre would be a significant upset, while a win for Cody Rhodes would solidify his position as the top champion.

The stage is set for an epic battle between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. With the Three Stages of Hell stipulation adding an extra layer of complexity to the match, it's anyone's guess who will emerge victorious on January 9.

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