Drew McIntyre Makes History Winning WWE Title vs. Cody Rhodes in 3 Stages of Hell

The undisputed WWE championship is back in Drew McIntyre's possession after he beat Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match on Friday Night SmackDown.

McIntyre won the championship by escaping the cage in the third fall.

McIntyre won the first fall (standard match) after hitting Rhodes with a low blow and then a Claymore. The referee was distracted from watching the low blow after McIntyre had previously exposed the top turnbuckle. While the ref was fixing the turnbuckle, the devious McIntyre got the job done.

Rhodes won the second fall in a Falls Count Anywhere match. This one featured incredible brutality. McIntyre put Rhodes through a table early. Rhodes later bit McIntyre's head and took a selfie.

The two then fought in the stands, and Rhodes hit a frog splash on McIntyre after jumping off an audience barrier. That wasn't even enough for a pin and win.

Eventually, Rhodes got it done after hitting a Cross Rhodes on McIntyre on the announce desk. With the score tied at one, the steel cage was lowered from the arena rafters to decide the champion.

The third stage was an epic fight between two exhausted opponents. Near the end, McIntyre crawled near the cage door opening for the win, but a hoodied figure blocked his way. That turned out to be Jacob Fatu, who started chasing McIntyre into the cage and beating him.

However, Fatu then turned his ire toward Rhodes and fought him. As that fracas was happening, McIntyre used the opportunity to crawl out of the cage for the title.

The feud between Rhodes and McIntyre has been building for months. McIntyre was unsuccessful in his last title bout on the Nov. 1 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event when Rhodes pinned him after hitting a DDT on the championship belt, followed by a Cross Rhodes.

Given the constant attacks by McIntyre against the champion, SmackDown general manager Adam Pearce indefinitely suspended the Scottish Warrior. McIntyre made his surprise return McIntyre by interfering in Rhodes' match with Oba Femi on the Dec. 13 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event.

Rhodes eventually reached a boiling point, attacking McIntyre in his home that led to setting up this bout for the undisputed championship.

McIntyre was allowed to pick the stipulations for each bout, with the first one being a straight wrestling match, followed by falls count anywhere and, if necessary, a steel cage bout.

The win by McIntyre opens up a lot of possibilities for what the direction will be with the undisputed title going into WrestleMania. It's possible Rhodes could regain the championship before the biggest show of the year, but a short title run by McIntyre doesn't seem like it would benefit anyone.

Rhodes could enter the Royal Rumble, where he would try to join Stone Cold Steve Austin as the only three-time winners, to guarantee himself a title shot at WrestleMania.

McIntyre has now won the undisputed WWE title three times, making him one of 16 superstars in history with at least three reigns.