WWE SmackDown Finish Raises Concerns Over Jacob Fatu’s Return Direction

Tommy Dreamer isn’t holding back after the shocking ending to the January 9, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown — and he’s especially concerned about what it means for Jacob Fatu moving forward.

Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, but the finish didn’t sit right with the ECW legend. Speaking on Busted Open, Dreamer criticized the post-match sequence that saw Jacob Fatu return and attack both men, ultimately helping McIntyre escape the cage to win his fourth world title. Dreamer questioned the logic behind Fatu’s involvement and whether the moment will actually benefit him.

“I did not like the finish at all, because I’m like ‘What does that do for Jacob?’ He reveals himself that it’s Drew McIntyre who attacked him, and he gets a reaction, and the moment he turned on Cody, (the crowd) start booing. I’m like, ‘So you don’t like Cody throughout the match, but now Jacob – who you like – once he starts beating up Cody, now you’re booing him and cheering for the guy he’s beating up.’”

Dreamer added that the emotional momentum shifted too suddenly, possibly muddying Fatu’s return rather than setting him up for a strong run.

“I thought the finish came off a little weird, and I just was like, where does this leave Jacob if this is his big return? If he’s going to be the guy to face Drew, he just screwed over Cody, so he’s not a likeable guy.”

The former ECW Champion also warned fans that a heel version of Cody Rhodes may not go over well — especially considering how he might play the character.

“If this is an era where we want to cheer bad, okay, but your worst scenario as a wrestling fan is a bad Cody Rhodes. I’m telling you, I know what he has to be a heel, and what you see as a top guy heel, you ain’t gonna like it.”

The match may have delivered chaos and surprise, but for Dreamer — it left more questions than answers, especially for Jacob Fatu’s trajectory in WWE.

Do you think Jacob Fatu’s return was handled right — or did WWE blow a major opportunity? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.