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Cody Rhodes Will Not Be Pleased If THIS Happens In WWE

By Gaurav Singh • Published May 19, 2026 06:17 EDT
Cody Rhodes WWE
Cody Rhodes (Image Source-WWE.com)

A massive pitch has been made for Cody Rhodes ahead of his WWE title defense at Clash in Italy, which may not end well for Cody.

Since he made his WWE return in 2022, Cody Rhodes has been the top babyface in the company. After he finished his story at WrestleMania 40 by capturing the Undisputed Championship, The American Nightmare has been synonymous with the title. At WrestleMania 42, Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to successfully retain his WWE Championship as well.

Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes is slated for his next title defense at the Clash in Italy PLE, where he will defend against Gunther. The Ring General has shown dominance over the past few months by retiring John Cena and AJ Styles, and also defeating Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42. Now, fans believe that Gunther could dethrone Cody as well.

WWE Hall of Famer wants a major setback for Cody Rhodes

During the recent edition of Busted Open Radio, the WWE Hall of Famer, Bully Ray (fka Bubba Ray Dudley) said that he wants Cody Rhodes to be in a hopeless situation against Gunther. Bully Ray suggested that The Ring General should put Cody to sleep at Clash in Italy and defeat him for the title:

I want Cody to be in a situation that he’s not used to being in where there is no hope. I want Cody to go to sleep this week on SmackDown, I want Cody to go to sleep next week on SmackDown, and I want Cody to go to sleep in the match in Turin, and I want Gunther to win.”

Bully Ray further explained how destroying Cody Rhodes will put a lot of heel heat on Gunther, and Cody’s fnabase will rally behind him, in hopes of his next win:

I want to take the hope from Cody away. I would love to see WWE rely on things that have been working in pro wrestling for hundreds of years, and that is going with some heel heat and steam in which the babyface has no hope, and now we see Cody put in a situation where he might have to question himself.

I believe he should defeat Cody. Will the loss affect Cody? Absolutely not, because Cody’s fanbase will rally behind him, because Cody’s fanbase has hope in Cody and they believe in Cody and they will will Cody back to his next victory,” Bully Ray stated. [H/T WrestleTalk]

It will be interesting to see who walks out of Clash in Italy as the WWE Champion.