Cody Rhodes might be done as WWE Champion if Drew McIntyre does one thing on SmackDown

Cody Rhodes is embroiled in a heated rivalry with Drew McIntyre, a rivalry that has reached unprecedented heights of ferocity. The two men will battle each other in a "Three Stages of Hell" match for the Undisputed WWE Championship in Berlin. This match is positioned as the potential blowoff to one of the fiercest rivalries, with McIntyre vowing to dethrone Rhodes in a hostile territory.

A Three Stages of Hell is a rare stipulation match that only took place five times in WWE. It is a best-of-three falls contest where each fall has a different match type and the superstar who secures two falls wins the bout. And here, Drew McIntyre has the edge as he gets to choose the three match types according to his preference. This however is a bad sign for the reigning champion.

Cody Rhodes' Undisputed WWE Title reign could be in jeopardy if McIntyre chooses Nick Aldis as the referee in the 3rd stage of hell, with the stipulation that Cody loses the title if he is disqualified or counted out by the referee. This will be the ultimate trump card for The Scottish Warrior, as such a menacing match type will turn the tables on his side, making his victory a sure shot.

The American Nightmare has not been on the good side of Nick Aldis lately on SmackDown. A few weeks ago, he disparaged the General Manager by asserting that he doesn't work for Aldis, but Aldis works for him. Cody Rhodes also ended up hitting the SmackDown GM last week during their segment. Even though it was accidental, this may have surely enraged the latter.

Therefore, if Drew McIntyre chooses such a stipulation where Nick Aldis would be the referee in the third stage of hell, it could make things worse. McIntyre could tactfully evade an attack, causing Cody Rhodes' blow to land on the referee. If that happens, a frustrated Nick Aldis could call for the bell and end the match, declaring The Scottish Warrior as the new Undisputed WWE Champion.

Cody Rhodes' feud with Drew McIntyre might end for good

Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre's rivalry has reached a point where both superstars are hungry to tear each other apart. They will collide on the January 9 epsiode of SmackDown in Berlin, Germany, in one of the most brutal matches in WWE's history. Well, this might finally mark the end of this saga.

Stipulations like "Three Stages of Hell" are rarely deployed in WWE to mark the culmination point of a rivalry or feud. Such matches serve as the blowoff of a particular storyline in the most dramatic fashion. This has been seen over the years whenever the company used such stipulations.

Therefore, Rhodes and McIntyre will likely go to war one last time next week in Berlin, Germany, to cap off their heated rivalry. Besides, WWE stretching this further wouldn't make any sense. The company is heading into the Royal Rumble season and it would look for some fresh stories for both superstars.

Cody Rhodes' feud with Drew McIntyre might therefore end for good as they lock horns in the Three Stages of Hell one week from now. It will be interesting to see how things shape up in the coming weeks.

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Edited by Subhasish Deb