WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Three Stages of Hell match set between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre

Plus, Joe Hendry wins his WWE SmackDown debut

Cody Rhodes will meet Drew McIntyre in hell. WWE is brushing off a rare stipulation for SmackDown's undisputed WWE title feud, pitting the repeat rivals in a Three Stages of Hell match.

The situation between Rhodes and McIntyre has grown increasingly hostile. Last week, Rhodes stormed McIntyre's residence and started a brawl. With SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis losing control of the matter, a dangerous stipulation has been introduced to settle things. 

Friday's show also featured the SmackDown debut of Joe Hendry. The popular former TNA world champion has made appearances at WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Saturday Night's Main Event, but had never competed on Raw or SmackDown before this week.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Illinois.

Rhodes, McIntyre meet in Three Stages of Hell

SmackDown kicked off with a Christmas concert courtesy of Hendry. The former TNA world heavyweight champion performed a festive "Jingle Bells" remix, making fun of The Miz. The pair traded barbs before their match was upgraded to a Miracle on 34th Street fight. 

Hendry def. The Miz via pinfall with his finisher, the Standing Ovation, through a table. Alpha Academy was ringside for the match with Otis and Tozawa dressed as Santa Claus and an elf, respectively. R-Truth also made a cameo in a rabbit costume.

Backstage, McIntyre promised that any questions fans had about his future would be answered tonight. Later, Rhodes sought Aldis but was confronted by former two-time NXT champion Trick Williams instead. 

McIntyre had been absent from SmackDown ever since Aldis suspended him in the lead-up to Survivor Series: WarGames. Aldis has since made overtures for McIntyre to return, but the former WWE champion refused to work on the same brand as Rhodes.

Last week, Aldis reached an agreement to bring McIntyre back to SmackDown. If McIntyre apologized for attacking referee Dan Engler and paid a fine, Rhodes would not be allowed to come into physical contact with McIntyre -- or risk being stripped of the undisputed WWE title. On Friday, McIntyre tore into the referee instead. 

It was subsequently revealed that Rhodes and McIntyre would wrestle for the undisputed WWE title on the Jan. 9 episode of SmackDown. Their match would be the seventh Three Stages of Hell match in WWE history, and the first on the main roster since 2013. McIntyre attacked Rhodes, standing over him to close the show.

Let's start with the good. Hendry, who regularly gets some of WWE's biggest reactions, was given ample time to audition himself to the main roster crowd. The return of Three Stages of Hell is something rare to look forward to. The problem is that McIntyre always loses these big matches. If that changes, it might inject life into SmackDown's world title scene. Until then, it's hard to get excited. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• United States Championship -- Carmelo Hayes def. Ilja Dragunov (c) via pinfall to become the new U.S. champion. 
• Charlotte Flair def. Lash Legend via pinfall with a sunset flip. The short match saw Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax interfere on behalf of their partners.
• Giulia and Kiana James def. Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre via pinfall as Giulia covered Green.