Cody Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre, but the way he achieved victory left fans talking. The stipulation stated that if Rhodes were disqualified or counted out, he would lose the title.
In the closing moments, Rhodes delivered a DDT to McIntyre while the championship belt was on the mat. The referee missed the infraction, enabling Rhodes to capitalize and secure the win. By traditional standards, McIntyre should have been awarded the match due to the use of the title as a weapon.
For a babyface champion, resorting to such tactics is unusual. This subtle shift in behavior could be WWE’s way of planting seeds for a potential heel turn, changing the trajectory of Rhodes’ character in the months ahead.