Drew McIntyre Was NOT Screwed Over, Stop Pretending He Was

A few days have passed since this happened, but I still wanted to address this. So on the latest edition of SmackDown, the main event featured Drew McIntyre vs Cody Rhodes for the former's WWE Championship. It was on the Elimination Chamber's post-show that SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis made the match after Drew crashed the tail end of the Elimination Chamber main event match and cost Cody the bout, which allowed Randy Orton to win it.

The announcement came after Aldis got in Drew's face following his actions, and once it was made, Drew was livid and blatantly accused Cody of being WWE's "Golden Boy." On the night in question, Drew approached Aldis again, and accused him of reneging on a deal that was made after Drew won the title from Cody in Three Stages of Hell on SmackDown on January 9. The stipulation from that night stated that Cody would not get a rematch if he lost, unless he won the Rumble or the Chamber. However, Aldis reminded Drew of his actions and interferences in both, so this title match makes things fair.

I remember reading before that night that there was talk of Cody winning because they wanted Cody vs Orton at WM. Strangely, I had a feeling Cody would win until that was unveiled, because usually when a game plan like that is given away in WWE, it doesn't happen. I was still stuck in the earlier rumor of a five-man match for the title happening at WM.

And yet:

Despite Drew's various attempts to cheat, Cody actually got it done and defeated Drew to become WWE Champion for the third time. So we are getting Cody vs Orton at WM42. This brought out the complainers, again proving how fickle most fans are. The same people who proudly called themselves "Cody Crybabies" are now hurling the same false accusations to Cody that they threw at Cena for years. "Forced down our throats," "Golden Boy," and worst of all, "Cody Hogan." Oh boy. I still say, and I've said this for years, that the hatred for Cody is racially motivated: they hate him because he's married to a Black woman.

These same people are saying that Drew got "screwed" and that Aldis broke his promise. Let's look at that again, shall we?

"We had an agreement that when I won this title, Cody wouldn't get a rematch unless he won the Rumble or the Chamber, and he won neither." That was Drew's rant to Aldis and to anyone within earshot. Now, it is true that Cody didn't win either of those things, but who caused that? Drew did. Drew literally crashed the Rumble and ousted Cody, and then he crashed the Chamber and cost Cody in that match as well. And Drew said "we" had an agreement, but in his mind, "we" only meant Aldis, while Drew can do what he wanted without repercussions. That's not agreements work, Drew.

Aldis reminded Drew that his end of the bargain was to let things happen naturally, to let things play out. Drew did no such thing. He intentionally made sure that Cody would not get a legit shot, and here's the thing: Cody was already out of his hair. All Drew had to do was sit back and not get in Cody's way, and he'd have been fine. But as Paul Heyman famously said recently, "FAFO." Drew FA'd quite a bit, and he would definitely FO the hard way, and now, he's ass out.

And the people crying about Drew's reign being short are acting like his past three world title runs didn't happen. "He finally wins the title in front of people, and this happens." First off, that is a blatant shot against the COVID/Thunderdome period, which saw WWE do what they had to do under the circumstances. Secondly, that was not the first time he won a world title in front of people. Drew won the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40 in front of people. And for those of you saying, "Punk cost him after that," again, whose fault is that? Drew got in Punk's face and talked his crap. Of course Punk would retaliate. Like Heyman said, "FAFO."

I know this much: Drew will be out for violence now. One thing I do like to see is heels reaching the point of extreme anger when things really don't go their way. Drew could not escape his boogeyman, and he's no longer champion as a result. He's going to be out for blood. Many fans want Drew vs Aldis at WM, mainly because they want to see the former TNA and NWA World Heavyweight Champion wrestle in a WWE ring. And Drew is just demented enough to want to really prod at Aldis, and I mean really prod at him. WWE does have a current relationship with TNA, and I wouldn't put it past Creative to have Drew go after Mickie James (Aldis' wife).

I know this much; the final few weeks leading to WM should be very interesting, especially on SmackDown's side! I am definitely here for all of it!