Drew McIntyre once again found himself at the center of controversy following a chaotic SmackDown episode on October 17, 2025, which ended in a disputed WWE Championship finish. Cody Rhodes retained his gold in the show’s main event against McIntyre, but the bout concluded with a controversial disqualification after Rhodes used the championship belt as a weapon. The decision sparked intense reactions from fans, with McIntyre publicly expressing his frustration.
The match came together after Jacob Fatu was taken out backstage, forcing WWE to reshuffle the card and ultimately leading to Rhodes defending his strap McIntyre for the title. For the unversed, the Scottish juggernaut and Fatu were meant to collide in a #1 contender’s bout. From the start, the bout was tense, with both stars exchanging heavy blows and momentum shifting rapidly.
The climax occurred when Rhodes deliberately struck McIntyre with the championship belt, resulting in a disqualification. Under WWE rules, Rhodes retained the title, leaving McIntyre visibly furious and refusing to accept the outcome.
Drew McIntyre Shared His Thoughts On WWE’s Recent Social Media Post
A key moment in the ongoing controversy came from Drew McIntyre on X. WWE’s official account shared a clip of the match between Rhodes and McIntyre, captioned: “@CodyRhodes put @DMcIntyreWWE in his place,” referencing the disputed finish.
McIntyre fired back with a sharp, mocking reply: “What in the ChatGPT are you on about?! I know you’re on Cody’s payroll but try to be less obvious next time. He took the DQ like the coward (and fraud) he is.”
The response not only rejected WWE’s portrayal of the match but also contained a subtle jab at the company’s rumored use of AI in storytelling.
What in the ChatGPT are you on about?! 😂
— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) October 19, 2025
I know you’re on Cody’s payroll but try to be less obvious next time.
He took the DQ like the coward (and fraud) he is. https://t.co/7R9U9kvb5Y pic.twitter.com/z2wKFvYT6A
Following his post on X, McIntyre’s frustration boiled over publicly. He shared a video from the gym, expressing his anger over the controversial match ending. McIntyre admitted his emotions ran so high that he nearly torched Rhodes’ bus before Sheamus stepped in to calm him down.
Despite the setback, McIntyre emphasized that his focus remains on winning the WWE Championship, declaring, “the title is mine,” and promising a rematch at the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event event on November 1.
The exchange has sparked debates among fans about the legitimacy of the storyline and WWE’s motives behind the controversial finish. Rumors of WWE’s new AI-driven creative process, overseen by a senior director named Cyrus Kowsari, have added another layer of intrigue.
Critics question whether such technology undermines the authenticity of wrestling storytelling, though WWE maintains that AI is used solely as a creative tool, not a replacement for human writers.
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The exchange has sparked debates among fans about the legitimacy of the storyline and WWE’s motives behind the controversial finish. Rumors of WWE’s new AI-driven creative process, overseen by a senior director named Cyrus Kowsari, have added another layer of intrigue.
Critics question whether such technology undermines the authenticity of wrestling storytelling, though WWE maintains that AI is used solely as a creative tool, not a replacement for human writers.
Former WWE Star Reveals Drew McIntyre’s Planned Stable Axed After CM Punk’s WWE Return
CM Punk’s return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 marked one of the most significant comebacks in recent wrestling history. His return sparked a heated rivalry with Drew McIntyre, boosting both stars and raising their profiles within the division.
However, a former WWE NXT star recently revealed that Punk’s comeback disrupted plans for McIntyre and NXT stable Gallus to debut on the main roster together.
Gallus, a heel faction consisting of Scottish wrestlers Wolfgang, Mark Coffey, and Joe Coffey, was released in May 2025 amid WWE budget cuts, along with other talent. The group had generated buzz for a potential main roster debut and a partnership with McIntyre.
In a conversation on Kevin for Mic Check with Mr. Anderson, Wolfgang disclosed that WWE had initially intended for Gallus to join McIntyre on the main roster, but those plans were ultimately derailed owing to Punk’s return to the company after a decade.
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During the conversation, Wolfgang explained (h/t WrestleTalk), “So I think there was a plan for us to join Drew McIntyre at some point, and then CM Punk showed up and the can kept getting kicked down the road and they didn’t need us anymore. And I think they got stuck. ‘This is what we’re doing, we’ll get to it at some point. They never even considered how else we’re going to do it.”
For the unversed, McIntyre previously recently challenged Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Wrestlepalooza 2025, but came up short in his bid to capture the title similarly to his SmackDown outing.
Following the loss, McIntyre turned his focus toward a feud with Jacob Fatu, while Rhodes shifted his attention to a high-profile champion vs. champion clash with Seth Rollins at Crown Jewel. But with the recent altercation on the blue brand, it seems that the Scotsman is far from done with ‘The American Nightmare.’
