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Cody Rhodes Learns His WWE Clash In Italy Opponent, Lays Him Out On SmackDown

By Faiz Ahmed • Published May 15, 2026 23:05 EDT
Cody Rhodes WWE
Cody Rhodes on his dream opponent (Source-WWE.com)

The main event of WWE SmackDown tonight featured a huge number one contender’s match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Cody Rhodes is set to defend his title at Clash in Italy later tonight and found out his opponent tonight.

Last week on the blue brand, Paul Heyman made a surprise appearance and repaid the favor he owed Gunther. He helped the Ring General come over to Friday Night SmackDown and got him a title match against Cody Rhodes.

However, he informed Cody that he needs to get the Ring General’s signature on the contract before walking away. Following last week’s ambiguity, Cody had set up a contract signing tonight.

He called Gunther out to sign the contract, but he refused. Instead, he asked Cody to treat him with more respect and overplayed his hand, leading to Royce Keys making his way out. He claimed that if Gunther wouldn’t sign the contract, he would.

This led to Nick Aldis coming out, and he agreed with Keys before setting a number one contender’s match between them for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Gunther has his sights set on the Undisputed WWE Championship

The two men fought it out in the main event, and Keys had the upper hand in the opening stages of the match. It didn’t last for long, though, as Gunther makes his way back into the match by slowing the pace down and sending Keys over the announce desk and into the steel steps.

Keys fought his way back into the match with a huge snap suplex to the Ring General, but Gunther didn’t stay down for long and took control once again. He then hit Gunther with a Superplex as well, but could only get a two-count.

Both of them then exchanged some brutal blows that had Royce bleeding from the mouth. Gunther quickly trapped him in the Sleeper Hold, and Royce Keys almost passed out before Solo Sikoa came out to motivate him and get him out of the hold.

Keys earned a boost of energy after getting out of the Sleeper, and he kept attacking Gunther, but the Ring General had him trapped in another Sleeper Hold. The former AEW star still got himself out before Gunther banged into the referee, taking him out.

Solo tried to get Keys to take advantage of the situation and handed him a steel chair. Instead, Keys attacked Solo with the steel chair, but this allowed Gunther to come back and he picked up the win with a massive clothesline and a huge powerbom to Keys.

Following the match, Gunther looked to send a message to Cody Rhodes, but was instead met with a CrossRhodes from the Undisputed WWE Championship as the show went off the air.

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