WWE Title Plans Revealed After Jacob Fatu Return (WWE News)
Latest word on what Triple H has planned for new WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
Wrestling Observer Live reports that WWE will restore their original bookings plans from before Jacob Fatu was injured and went off to get dental surgery late-last year. Back in early-October, the company mapped out a Triple Threat scenario pitting Fatu vs. (then-WWE Champ) Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre for the top title.
Jacob's health necessitated a McIntyre beatdown on the 17 October episode of SmackDown. Technically, it's still unconfirmed on TV that Drew was behind the attack, but it's one of WWE's worst kept secrets. Of course, the creative team could swerve everyone by revealing that none other than Cody was behind the sneaky ambush, but that remains unlikely unless a full-blown Rhodes heel turn is in the works.
Besides, McIntyre makes a lot more sense - he was trying to eliminate a rival vying to contend for Cody's belt, and he'd already been at loggerheads with Fatu on SmackDown anyway.
Since then, Drew has gone on to challenge and beat Rhodes for the WWE Title. He won it following a lengthy '3 Stages Of Hell' bout on the 9 January show held in Berlin, Germany. Jacob made his comeback during the steel cage portion of that match, but ended up brawling with Cody as McIntyre left through the cage door for the surprise win.
Now, either at Saturday Night's Main Event on 24 January or at the Royal Rumble PLE on 31 January, Triple H will pull the trigger on McIntyre vs. Rhodes vs. Fatu.
WWE Teased Cody Rhodes vs. Fatu Pre-Layoff
Footage was shown of Jacob staring down then-champ Cody on TV before his sabbatical. At one point, it actually seemed like WWE chiefs were interested in ousting McIntyre from the equation by using him as more of a speed bump for Fatu than anything else. Obviously, those plans had to change due to his dental emergency.
Thus, Rhodes defending the WWE Title isn't a match SmackDown's writers can book...yet. They'll have to script another Cody championship reign for that to happen in the future, which certainly isn't out of the question but doesn't appear to be the plan for a while.
It is, however, heartening to see Jacob in the main event mix so quickly after his return. His rise up the ranks from Bloodline heavy to standalone star has had hiccups (his United States Title reign felt very short and his loss to Solo Sikoa abrupt), but he's clearly someone Hunter has high, high hopes for in 2026.
Let the Triple Threat commence.