The March 6 episode of WWE SmackDown ended with a massive title change — but the reaction online quickly turned into a wave of backlash.
In the main event from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre to win back the Undisputed WWE Championship after a chaotic closing sequence that involved referee interference, near falls, and outside involvement from Jacob Fatu.
As soon as the show ended, WWE’s official account posted “#SmackDown reactions ⤵️” on Twitter, inviting fans to weigh in on the episode. That’s when the comment section exploded. Instead of celebrating Rhodes’ victory, many fans immediately voiced frustration over how the match ended and the decision to put the title back on Cody.
Some viewers felt Drew McIntyre’s reign ended too abruptly and argued he deserved a stronger run with the championship.
Others framed the finish as a storyline screw job rather than a clean win.
Several fans also pointed to the broader direction of McIntyre’s title run, suggesting the payoff made the entire reign feel pointless.
The frustration didn’t stop there. Some viewers turned their attention toward WWE’s creative leadership, specifically Triple H, who oversees the company’s storytelling as Chief Content Officer. One fan referenced the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards while taking a shot at the company’s booking decisions.
“Tell HHH to upgrade his ChatGPT subscription. The storylines are getting out of hands.”
Memes also started flooding the replies as fans mocked the ending of the show. One viewer posted a Nicolas Cage reaction GIF with the caption “ASS!” to sum up their opinion of the finish. Another fan shared a Triple H meme with the caption “ABSOLUTE SH*T,” using it to describe the booking of the title change.
Some posts also turned sarcastic, joking about Cody Rhodes’ prominence in WWE storylines. One meme showed Rhodes in a parody graphic referencing OnlyFans, poking fun at how often he appears in major segments.
Despite the flood of criticism, not every reaction was aimed directly at Rhodes himself. Many of the complaints focused more on the decision to end McIntyre’s run rather than Cody winning the championship. Still, the overall tone of the replies made one thing clear — a large group of fans online were not happy with the direction WWE chose for the SmackDown main event. With WrestleMania approaching quickly, the company will now have to see whether the backlash fades or if the reaction continues as the storyline develops.
What did you think about Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE Championship again? Was it the right move or should Drew McIntyre have kept the title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
