Former champion responds online following Cody Rhodes victory
Summary
– Drew McIntyre reacted online after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship
– The former champion posted a single thumbs-down emoji on social media
– Fan backlash continues to grow over Cody Rhodes reclaiming the title
Drew McIntyre has finally responded following his loss of the Undisputed WWE Championship during the March 6 episode of SmackDown.
The former champion stayed quiet immediately after the title change. A day later, he returned to social media with a brief response that caught fans’ attention.
McIntyre posted a single thumbs-down emoji as his first message since dropping the championship. The short response acknowledged the reaction surrounding the title change.
The SmackDown main event took place at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Cody Rhodes defeated McIntyre in a chaotic match filled with multiple referee bumps and outside interference.
Late in the match, McIntyre attempted to use a steel chair to retain the championship. The situation changed when Jacob Fatu appeared and removed the weapon from his hands.
That moment created the opening Rhodes needed. He followed with a Cody Cutter and then delivered Cross Rhodes to secure the three count and regain the Undisputed WWE Championship.
The result has sparked strong reactions across social media. The YouTube upload of the match has collected a large number of dislikes compared to likes on WWE’s official channel.
Many fans believed McIntyre would carry the championship into WrestleMania 42 after capturing the title earlier this year in a Three Stages of Hell match. The quick turnaround has become a major talking point among viewers.
The title change also came less than two months after McIntyre ended Rhodes’ 159 day second reign at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI. That rapid shift in the championship picture added to the online criticism.
Despite the reaction, the direction of WrestleMania is now clear. Rhodes is set to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton after Orton won the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber match.
McIntyre’s brief emoji post has now added another layer to the ongoing debate surrounding the championship decision.
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— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) March 7, 2026
