The ongoing rivalry on Friday Night SmackDown featuring the WWE Championship battle between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre, which has stretched over several months, has unfortunately been underwhelming despite the star power involved. The feud has suffered from inconsistent booking, including McIntyre’s brutal attack on Rhodes intended to give Rhodes time off for a movie, leading to a stalled and uneven storyline. Although both are strong performers with mic skills and brawling ability, their promos have lacked depth and intensity due to limited airtime, resulting in less impactful matches at key events like Wrestlepalooza and Saturday Night’s Main Event, where booking choices made McIntyre appear weak and losing repeatedly.
To potentially revive this lackluster feud, a Hell in a Cell match is proposed as a fitting and dramatic conclusion. Both Rhodes and McIntyre have previously excelled in similar high-stakes, brutal matches—Rhodes in his 2022 battle against Seth Rollins, and McIntyre in his intense 2024 fight with CM Punk. Although some may argue that their feud doesn’t naturally warrant such a stipulation, WWE has a history of creating memorable matches even when storylines falter, making this an opportunity to turn things around in a dramatic and career-defining way.
Since Triple H took over creative, Hell in a Cell matches have been used sparingly, restoring their mystique and impact. WWE has only held two such matches under his leadership, and adding one between Rhodes and McIntyre would elevate the bout’s importance and reinvigorate fan interest. This limited use of the stipulation, combined with the growing tension between the two stars, could transform the feud from dull to must-see.
Fan Take: This potential Hell in a Cell showdown between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre is crucial for WWE fans craving a meaningful, hard-hitting main event that lives up to the talent involved. If executed well, it could not only redeem a weary storyline but also reinforce the Hell in a Cell’s legacy as a headline-grabbing, career-defining match type in WWE’s storytelling arsenal.
