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A major championship match has been added to the upcoming WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event special. Cody Rhodes will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. The announcement was made by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis via social media on Tuesday. The match is set for the November 1 event in Salt Lake City, Utah. This confirmation follows a chaotic sequence of events on last Friday’s episode of SmackDown. A show-long storyline initially had McIntyre scheduled to face Jacob Fatu in the main event to determine the number one contender for Rhodes’ title. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match However, as Fatu’s entrance music played, cameras cut backstage to reveal he had been brutally attacked. Fatu was shown laid out, bleeding from the mouth, with what appeared to be teeth scattered on the floor nearby. McIntyre expressed satisfaction with the situation but denied any involvement in the assault. 🚨 🚨 🚨After what went down on SmackDown, @RealNickAldis has some HUGE news regarding @CodyRhodes, @DMcIntyreWWE and Saturday Night's Main Event on November 1st! 📍 SALT LAKE CITY🎟️ https://t.co/FSewyLC5Pb pic.twitter.com/PEg2TAi2KT— WWE (@WWE) October 21, 2025 The attack on Fatu is likely a storyline explanation for his legitimate, non-wrestling-related injury, which is expected to keep him sidelined well into 2026. John Cena (L) and Cody Rhodes wrestle during the Undisputed WWE Championship during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Following the reveal of Fatu’s condition, Cody Rhodes came out to confront McIntyre. “The American Nightmare” declared that if McIntyre wanted a title shot, he could have it right then and there. The two superstars immediately began brawling. The bell eventually rang, but the impromptu contest quickly ended in a disqualification when Rhodes struck McIntyre with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt. Aldis’s announcement now makes their upcoming encounter official. This WWE Championship match joins the previously announced main event for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. Following Seth Rollins’ injury, a Battle Royal was held on Raw last night, reportedly won by Jey Uso. Uso will now face the number one contender, CM Punk, to crown the new World Heavyweight Champion at the November 1 Saturday Night’s Main Event. More WWE News: Released WWE Superstar Retires From Pro Wrestling Released WWE Star Breaks Silence On Departure Released WWE Star Wants To Join AEW For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
