Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre at Wrestlepalooza on Saturday to retain the WWE Championship. After beating John Cena at SummerSlam to become a two-time WWE champion, Rhodes joined forces with Cena on the Aug. 8 episode of SmackDown. Rhodes made the save, and Cena laid down a challenge for a tag team match pitting him and Cody against Logan and Drew later that night. On the Sept. 12 edition of SmackDown, McIntyre and Orton clashed in a singles match that McIntyre won with a Claymore after Orton narrowly avoided colliding with the referee. After McIntyre retreated, Rhodes offered to put the WWE Championship on the line against Drew at Wrestlepalooza, and the match was made official shortly thereafter.