Cody Rhodes is back in the chase and thats exactly how WWE wants it.
Rhodes dropped the Undisputed WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre on the January 9 episode of SmackDown, ending his second reign after a brutal Three Stages of Hell match. Now, the real reason for the title change has been revealed, and it comes down to one thing: long-term strategy.
According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the decision was spearheaded by Paul Triple H Levesque, who saw potential burnout in WWEs original plan.
Instead, Rhodes himself reportedly suggested McIntyre as a potential opponent and floated the idea of flipping roles becoming the hunter instead of the hunted. Meltzer added:
The move wasnt just endorsed it was pushed from within. Both McIntyre and Rhodes lobbied for the switch behind the scenes.
Looking ahead, McIntyre will defend his newly won championship at Royal Rumble on January 31. His challenger will be determined through a four-way match, with qualifying bouts kicking off on the January 16 SmackDown and the finals taking place at Saturday Nights Main Event on January 24.
Do you think WWE made the right call flipping the script on Cody Rhodes? Was Drew McIntyre the right choice to carry the gold into WrestleMania? Sound off in the comments let us know what you wouldve booked.
