WWE SmackDown: Why Drew McIntyre Will Win the 3 Stages of Hell Match

How Did We Get Here?

More recently, McIntyre came up short against Rhodes in the main event of Wrestlepalooza, a show that failed to live up to its hype. A big reason why? The predictable ending. No title change. No shock. No payoff.

And yet, fans have rallied harder around Drew than ever.

Dating back to his feud with Punk, McIntyre has been performing at the highest level of his career. He’s found the rare sweet spot in modern wrestling: universally respected, loudly booed, and unmistakably beloved. That’s not a contradiction—that’s elite heel territory.

Drew McIntyre must win the WWE Championship on Friday night.

There’s reason to believe WWE knows it too. Triple H’s social media promo leading into the match is telling. Watch it closely, and you’ll notice who the story centers on. From Drew and Cody’s early tag team days to McIntyre’s increasingly ruthless turn over the past several months, Drew is the focal point. Not the champion—the challenger.

He's also the one tagged as a collaborator on the post.

Could Drew Be Champion Heading Into WrestleMania?

Yes, WWE likely wants Cody holding the title heading into WrestleMania. But WrestleMania isn’t tomorrow. It’s April. January leaves room—plenty of it—for title changes, special events, and compelling television to get the belt back where WWE ultimately wants it.

This isn’t about taking something away from Cody. It’s about giving both men what they need.

If Cody beats McIntyre here, where does he go? That’s a real creative concern. His character is already flirting with stagnation, and another clean win over Drew risks cooling fan support. A loss forces Cody back into a chase, and historically, that’s when he’s at his best. We need to feel like 2024 again.

Let Drew win. Let him run with the title. Let him defend it against opponents not named Cody Rhodes. Then, within 45 days of WrestleMania, you can put the championship back on Cody with momentum fully restored.

Frankly, I wouldn’t hate seeing Drew carry the title all the way to Las Vegas. He’s proven he can handle the biggest spotlight WWE offers, deliver across match types, and command the microphone opposite the very best.

What Will 3 Stages of Hell Be Like?

As for the match itself, Three Stages of Hell promises brutality—not gratuitous violence, but the kind of physical, psychological warfare that will benefit from SmackDown’s new three-hour format. This won’t be blood and guts. It doesn’t need to be. It’ll be a grown man’s fight.

WWE has invested far too much into this story—the cinematic angle at Drew’s house alone says everything—to have McIntyre come up short again. If he loses here, what was the point of any of it?

By the time the bell rings Friday night in Berlin, there’s only one ending that feels earned.

“And new… Drew McIntyre.”