Cody Rhodes Triumphs Over Drew McIntyre in WrestlePalooza Main Event

 In the main event of the first-ever WWE WrestlePalooza, Cody Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against one of his toughest challengers to date, Drew McIntyre . The highly anticipated clash, which headlined WWE's inaugural premium live event on the ESPN streaming service, saw "The American Nightmare" overcome a brutal assault from "The Scottish Warrior" to stand tall with his title held high .

The victory continues Rhodes' second reign as champion, which began just last month when he defeated John Cena at SummerSlam . However, the path to this clean victory was almost very different, as reports indicate a more dramatic finish was originally pitched .

The Match: A Back-and-Forth War

Cody Rhodes Triumphs Over Drew McIntyre in Wrestle Palooza Main Event

Staged at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the match was billed as a WrestleMania-caliber encounter and delivered with high intensity . From the opening bell, the two superstars traded powerful moves and stiff shots, with Rhodes showing early signs of vulnerability by favoring his knee .

McIntyre, a three-time WWE world champion, quickly seized control . He caught a suicide dive attempt from Rhodes and launched him over the announce table before delivering a devastating inverted Alabama Slam onto the steel ring steps . McIntyre dominated much of the match, showcasing his raw power with a series of suplexes and a punishing avalanche White Noise from the second rope .

Cody Rhodes Triumphs Over Drew McIntyre in WrestlePalooza Main Event

The champion's resilience shone through as he fought back, hitting a superplex and his signature Disaster Kick . The bout featured several heart-stopping near falls, including when McIntyre connected with his signature Claymore Kick, only for Rhodes to kick out at the last possible moment .

The drama escalated when McIntyre, in a moment of frustration, ripped off the turnbuckle pad. He later attempted to repeat his post-match attack from weeks prior by aiming to drive Rhodes through the announce table with another Claymore . This time, however, the referee's intervention allowed Rhodes to move, causing McIntyre to crash leg-first into the table . Back in the ring, as McIntyre's leg gave out, Rhodes capitalized, hitting a Super Cody Cutter followed by the Cross Rhodes to secure the pinfall victory .

The Road to WrestlePalooza

Cody Rhodes Triumphs Over Drew McIntyre in WrestlePalooza Main Event

The rivalry intensified after SummerSlam, where McIntyre and Logan Paul had teamed up for a victory . The following night on SmackDown, after a tag team match, McIntyre launched a vicious assault on Rhodes, hitting him with the WWE Championship belt and putting him through the announce table with a Claymore . This attack wrote Rhodes off television for over a month .

During Rhodes' absence, McIntyre shifted his focus to Randy Orton, defeating him on the September 12th episode of SmackDown . As McIntyre prepared to inflict the same table spot on Orton, Cody Rhodes made his surprise return to make the save, leading to the championship match being officially set for WrestlePalooza .

A Scrapped Storyline Twist

Interestingly, the straightforward finish was not the only option considered. According to reports from BodySlam.net, both Rhodes and McIntyre themselves pitched a different ending . Their idea involved Randy Orton accidentally costing Rhodes the championship, leading to a storyline where Cody would chase the title to win it back from McIntyre, only for Orton to then turn on him . WWE creative ultimately decided against this swerve, opting for a clean victory that allowed Rhodes to solidify his title reign without outside interference .

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What's Next for the Champion?

With this victory, Cody Rhodes has now surpassed 425 total days as WWE champion across his two reigns . However, the feud with Drew McIntyre may not be over. The finish, which involved questionable refereeing that arguably cost McIntyre the match, suggests that there is more story to tell between the two top SmackDown stars . With few other ready-made contenders on the blue brand, an extension of this rivalry into upcoming events like Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia, or Survivor Series seems likely .

For now, Cody Rhodes continues his journey as the face of WWE, but with a determined Drew McIntyre and a potential future clash with Randy Orton looming, "The American Nightmare" must stay vigilant .