Drew McIntyre has announced the stipulations for his upcoming Three Stages of Hell match against Cody Rhodes, set to take place on WWE Smackdown next week in Berlin, Germany. The first stage will be a traditional match to establish superiority, followed by a Falls Count Anywhere match, and concluding with a steel cage match. Cody Rhodes is barred from making physical contact with McIntyre outside the match, or else he risks being stripped of his title. Recently, tension escalated when Rhodes intruded on McIntyre’s personal space by boarding his tour bus and looking through his belongings, which led to a heated confrontation. McIntyre also invoked poignant moments by referencing the late Dusty Rhodes, showing a framed photo of Dusty and himself before burning it in the ring as a symbol of his frustration. Security had to intervene to keep Rhodes from escalating the situation further. This storyline marks the return of the Three Stages of Hell match to WWE, a format last seen 12 years ago in a bout between John Cena and Ryback, featuring lumberjack, table, and ambulance match variations.
Fan Take: This announcement is a big deal for WWE fans as it revives a high-stakes, multi-stage match format that promises intense action and drama. The personal conflict between McIntyre and Rhodes adds emotional depth, potentially elevating their rivalry into one of the most memorable in recent WWE history.
