WWE is set to hold a major championship match on Smackdown this week with Drew McIntyre defending his world title against Cody Rhodes in a rematch. It appears the results of that match are going to have significant ramifications towards WrestleMania 42.
PWInsider Elite reported today that internally, there is a belief that Friday's match between Rhodes and McIntyre on Smackdown will feature a title change. The story cautioned that while plans are subject to change, the decision to put the title back on Rhodes has nothing to do with McIntyre's performance as champion but rather a long-term plan for WWE to make Rhodes vs. Randy Orton as one of the top matches at WrestleMania 42. Of course, Orton won last month's Elimination Chamber and is set to face whomever as the Undisputed title at the time.
Meanwhile, The Self Made Pro podcast made a similar assertion yesterday when they noted on their show that they were told by sources in early February that Cody Rhodes' camp was assured of a WrestleMania 42 match against Randy Orton for the WWE Undisputed Title. If that is still WWE's plans, then Friday's show would be perhaps their best opportunity to go through with the title change from McIntyre to Rhodes.
Where that would leave McIntyre for WrestleMania 42 is unclear though a match against Jacob Fatu or albeit unlikely, even one against Smackdown GM Nick Aldis would possibly be on the cards.
