Cody Rhodes reclaimed the Undisputed WWE Championship by defeating Drew McIntyre in the main event of the March 6 episode of SmackDown. The victory sets up a WrestleMania 42 main event clash between Rhodes and Elimination Chamber winner Randy Orton. Orton later sent a message to Rhodes ahead of their contract signing next week.
On the March 6, 2026, episode of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes pinned Drew McIntyre to win his third Undisputed WWE Championship, ending McIntyre's 57-day reign. The match was arranged by General Manager Nick Aldis following Orton's victory in the Elimination Chamber, where Rhodes had been eliminated earlier. This outcome shifted the WrestleMania 42 landscape, confirming Rhodes will defend the title against his former Legacy stablemate Randy Orton in the Night 1 main event in Las Vegas.
The bout was a rematch from their January 9 encounter in Berlin, Germany, where McIntyre triumphed in a '3 Stages Of Hell' match with interference from Jacob Fatu. After Rhodes' clean victory on SmackDown, McIntyre reached for a steel chair to attack the new champion, but Fatu intervened, halting the assault and hinting at a potential WrestleMania showdown between the two. Sources indicate WWE creative decided on the Rhodes-Orton matchup about a month prior, informing McIntyre of the title change just last week.
Randy Orton opened the show by highlighting his legacy, noting this will be his 21st WrestleMania match and only the third time headlining. Backstage, Orton reacted to Rhodes' win with a smirk and later posted a message: “See you next week in Phoenix,” referencing the March 13 SmackDown contract signing for their title bout. Their history includes Orton mentoring Rhodes in Legacy, a past rivalry, and Rhodes defeating Orton in last year's King of the Ring final. Orton won the Elimination Chamber to earn his shot, reigniting their storyline.
Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 features CM Punk versus Roman Reigns. The event underscores WWE's road to WrestleMania amid booking adjustments due to injuries and creative decisions.
