RAW Heel Tipped To Win Undisputed WWE Title In 2026

Cody Rhodes may find himself in a huge storyline with a top WWE heel in 2026.

The American Nightmare has been holding the Undisputed WWE Championship since SummerSlam. He is now set to defend the title against Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match on the December 9 episode of SmackDown.

Speaking on his Notsam Wrestling podcast, WWE analyst Sam Roberts disclosed his desire to see Rhodes drop the championship to The Scottish Warrior. He also proposed a follow-up storyline involving Gunther.

Gunther Vs. Cody Rhodes To Clash After WWE WrestleMania 42?

Gunther has been built as a monster since arriving on the main roster. This year, The Ring General gained another reputation as a legend killer after retiring both Goldberg and John Cena.

During the same episode of Notsam Wrestling, Sam Roberts suggested Gunther could win the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble, then dethrone Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania. The 42-year-old pointed out that Cody Rhodes could then chase The Ring General for the title.

I think Gunther is being built as a monster that is the future of WWE and is the guy that’s gonna be there to help build up young talent and turn young talent into larger-than-life superstars. And I think one way you get there is that Gunther becomes Cody Rhodes’ big rival.

I think Cody Rhodes, not only do I think is Cody Rhodes not going to turn heel, I think Cody Rhodes is gonna double down on being a babyface because he’s a great babyface. And I think Gunther is gonna double down on being a heel because he’s a great heel. And I think Gunther vs. Cody Rhodes is gonna be one of, if not the marquee programs of 2026.

I don’t know that that’s gonna be a WrestleMania match. I mean, hell, you know, we were talking earlier about the idea that like if Drew McIntyre were to take the WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes. What if Drew McIntyre took to WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes and then Gunther beat Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania?

Well, now you’ve got Cody Rhodes chasing Gunther for the WWE Championship. I think that’s a real possibility that you could end up in a situation where Cody Rhodes has to beat Gunther to get the title back, not to just get to defend the title. I think that’s very possible. Gunther could be WWE Champion in 2026. [45:05 onwards]

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Also read:WWE Star To End Two-Year In-Ring Absence To Face Cody Rhodes?

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