The September 19 episode of WWE SmackDown led to complete chaos as Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre couldn’t maintain issues civil throughout their remaining face-to-face earlier than their WWE Undisputed Championship conflict.
SmackDown Common Supervisor Nick Aldis kicked issues off within the ring by selling WWE’s ESPN pay-per-view debut at WrestlePalooza, reminding followers that Cody vs. Drew will function the primary occasion. Drew McIntyre was the primary to reach, however Cody Rhodes rapidly interrupted earlier than a phrase could possibly be spoken.
Cody used the chance to convey up their shared historical past—reminding Drew that precisely fifteen years in the past to the day, they received the tag staff titles collectively. However Cody made it clear that their historical past didn’t matter tonight. He mentioned followers aren’t tuning in for legacy; they simply wish to see two males battle.
He didn’t maintain again both, calling Drew out for changing into “a keyboard warrior” in latest months and sarcastically daring him to publish one thing on social media. Drew smirked and pulled out his telephone, posting “Thanks Cody.”
That set the stage for Drew to unload his actual frustrations. He claimed all he’s ever wished was a good, interference-free title shot—one thing Cody would by no means give him as a result of he’s too targeted on being “the corporate man,” at all times nervous about sponsors, inventory costs, and his identify being the model.
Drew mentioned he kicked Cody by way of the announce desk weeks in the past, however Cody simply got here again and “talked him to demise.” He then warned Cody that similar to he sat in Cody’s spot 5 years in the past, Cody will ultimately take his—and when he does, he’ll be saying, “My God, Drew was proper.”
Cody responded with a contract signature and a warning: if Drew wins, it’ll be his second. But when he loses, his legacy turns into “the person who misplaced to Cody at their debut ESPN PLE WrestlePalooza for the WWE Undisputed Championship.”
After each males signed, Drew all of the sudden headbutted Cody, flipping the desk. The battle spilled to ringside the place Drew smashed Cody’s face into the announce desk and teased one other Claymore Kick—however stopped simply brief.
As an alternative, Drew leaned into the second, stating he wouldn’t finish the match earlier than it occurs. He promised to take what issues most to Cody—the title.
Cody responded with a suicide dive, sparking a full-on brawl that safety and officers struggled to include. Regardless of being separated, Drew landed a vicious boot to Cody’s head and stomped him out because the present went off the air.
The desk is ready for probably the most private WWE title matches in latest reminiscence—and the animosity is boiling over.
Are you siding with the Scottish Warrior or the American Nightmare heading into ESPN’s first WWE premium stay occasion WrestlePalooza? Drop your ideas and predictions within the feedback under.
September 19, 2025 10:16 pm
