Gunther Gets Dropped by Cody Rhodes After Earning WWE Title Shot on SmackDown

Gunther was caught off guard by Cody Rhodes as the latter avenged his recent beatdowns on this week's SmackDown.

Gunther Gets Dropped by Cody Rhodes After Earning WWE Title Shot on SmackDown

Cody Rhodes dropped Gunther with a Cross Rhodes on SmackDown [via- WWE]

Gunther had it all laid out for him on this week’s SmackDown. He just had to put his signatures on two contracts—one to make him a full-time member of the SmackDown roster and the other one to bestow a WWE title shot on him at Clash in Italy. Cody Rhodes went out and set it up for ‘The Ring General’ all by himself.

He called out the Austrian, who, upon his arrival, slammed the champ for always making things about himself. The Vienna-born wrestler mocked Rhodes for his typical American behavior and asked him to be a bit more professional while dealing with the former leader of Imperium.

Gunther asked Rhodes to address him by adding please. ‘The Prodigal Son’ fired back at ‘The Career Killer’ for not coming into the ring and signing the contracts that would guarantee a WWE title showdown at Clash in Italy. It was supposed to be that simple, but Gunther was making it weird by delaying the proceedings.

Rhodes eventually pleaded with the erstwhile Walter to sign the contract so that he could beat him up in Italy. Gunther didn’t like that and wanted the ex-AEW EVP to rephrase his lines. And just then, Royce Keys‘ music hit. He looked Gunther in the eyes and said he was going to sign the contract now. Keys made a beeline to the ring and was about to sign on the dotted line, but Gunther stopped him in the nick of time.

The former Powerhouse Hobbs shoved ‘The Career Killer’ for keeping him from putting his initials on the contract. Things got heated, and it prompted SmackDown GM Nick Aldis to announce Gunther vs. Keys in the main event. The winner would get to challenge Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE title at Clash in Italy.

Even though ‘The Ring General’ managed to beat Keys, it could’ve gone differently for the latter had Solo Sikoa not interfered in the closing moments. Sikoa caught Keys’ attention by imploring him to use the steel chair against Gunther. ‘The Bay Area Big Man’ instead smashed it into Sikoa’s face, but that small distraction was enough for Gunther to put the former AEW star away.

The 38-year-old proceeded to talk some trash about Rhodes into the camera. The longest-reigning IC Champion, however, got blindsided by Rhodes, who flattened the cocky European with a Cross Rhodes. The infamous ‘Career Killer’ had it coming his way given the fact that he jumped ‘The American Nightmare’ two weeks in a row and left him unconscious the first time around.

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Triple H ratifies the Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther showdown for Clash in Italy

Shortly after SmackDown went off air, WWE CCO Triple H made it official that Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Gunther at Clash in Italy. ‘The Game’ posted a graphic on X featuring both men and noted that history will be made in Italy.

Triple H
Triple H has reacted to Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther at Clash in Italy [via- WWE]

It’d mark Rhodes’ first title defense since overcoming Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. The fans were expecting Orton and Rhodes to continue their feud post-Mania. However, there were some concerns about The Viper’s back hurting again. He’s believed to have been taken off the road by WWE, but nothing is being said about him possibly dealing with any major issues at the moment.

He’s currently advertised for the 05/29 edition of SmackDown in Barcelona. It would be interesting to see if he’d actually be there or not. The fans could still expect Orton to target Rhodes once he’s back, and they might have a rematch at SummerSlam. But Gunther would surely want to throw a wrench in that.

He hasn’t held gold since last year’s WrestleMania and seems like a man possessed to become a 3-time world champion in WWE. He has been pinned by Rhodes before in the only match they’ve had on the main roster at Crown Jewel in 2024. Could he turn it around for himself in Turin? The fans will find it out on May 31.

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