Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre Set for WWE Championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event — Can The American Nightmare End His Losing Streak?

The road to redemption gets serious for Cody Rhodes, as the Undisputed WWE Champion puts his title on the line once again — this time against Drew McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It’s official. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis dropped the bombshell Tuesday night via social media, confirming a blockbuster rematch between The American Nightmare and The Scottish Warrior for November 1.

Cody’s Cold Streak Meets McIntyre’s Moment

Rhodes has been on unfamiliar ground lately — three straight losses and growing frustration boiling over. After weeks of mental and emotional strain, Friday’s SmackDown saw Cody lose his composure in dramatic fashion. When Jacob Fatu was mysteriously attacked backstage ahead of his scheduled No. 1 Contender’s Match, Rhodes took his place on the fly — still in his custom three-piece suit.

Mid-match emotions got the best of him, though, as Cody cracked McIntyre with the WWE Title belt, earning himself a disqualification and handing McIntyre the victory. The outburst added new fire to their rivalry — and gave McIntyre the leverage for one more shot at the gold.

This will mark Drew McIntyre’s third attempt at reclaiming the WWE Championship in just over a month. He came up short cleanly against Rhodes at WWE Wrestlepalooza, then took the DQ win last Friday. Now, under the bright lights of Saturday Night’s Main Event, it’s do-or-die for both men: McIntyre chasing redemption, Cody fighting for control of his own story.

Rollins’ Surgery Shakes Up the Main Event Scene

While Cody and Drew prepare to clash, the rest of WWE’s title picture is shifting fast. On Monday’s Raw, Seth Rollins was officially stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship following shoulder surgery sustained at Crown Jewel.

Rollins shared a heartfelt Instagram update Tuesday, assuring fans he’ll “see them on the other side of recovery.” Sources indicate WWE hopes to have him back in time for WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, though no timeline is confirmed.

With Rollins sidelined, WWE wasted no time moving forward — confirming that CM Punk will face Jey Uso for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

👉 Full Details: Jey Uso Wins Over-The-Top-Rope Battle Royal on Raw

Official Card (Announced So Far):

• Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre — WWE Championship
• CM Punk vs. Jey Uso — Vacant World Heavyweight Championship

🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take

There’s more to this story than just wins and losses — Cody Rhodes is walking a psychological tightrope. His “finish the story” mantra has shifted into survival mode, and WWE is smartly weaving the cracks in his confidence into the ongoing narrative. The DQ finish on SmackDown wasn’t just about rage — it was a storytelling pivot, humanizing Cody’s struggle with the weight of being champion.

For Drew McIntyre, this is the make-or-break chapter. A clean loss here might push him toward the kind of character evolution he’s been teasing for months — perhaps even a heel resurgence.

And with Rollins out, the CM Punk–Jey Uso showdown could quietly steal the show in Salt Lake City. The absence of Rollins creates a vacuum of leadership on Raw, and Punk’s return to championship contention is the kind of reality-bending move WWE thrives on.

Saturday Night’s Main Event is shaping up to be a high-stakes night — one that could reset the power structure of WWE heading into Survivor Series season.

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