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What Happened With Cody Rhodes After WWE SmackDown Went Off Air

By John Canton • Published May 30, 2026 08:41 EDT
Cody Rhodes WWE Champion
Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown April 25, 2026 - Image via WWE.com

Cody Rhodes delivered a final message to GUNTHER after WWE SmackDown ended.

In the main event of WWE SmackDown on May 29th in Barcelona, the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes went face-to-face with Gunther just two days before their WWE Title match at Clash in Italy.

While their segment on SmackDown didn’t turn physical, the two proud champions traded words while making valid points.

After Gunther denied wanting to be the face of WWE the way that Cody Rhodes is, Cody fired back by calling Gunther a liar because he knows Gunther wants it.

Cody Rhodes: “I’m gonna tell you something. I know that you want it. Otherwise, I’d be talking to a 330lb version of yourself in front of a couple hundred people at an indy show. But instead, I’m talking to the most refined, most dangerous, the peak form of an athlete that you have made yourself.”

“At Clash in Italy, you’re gonna get this close to finding all that attention that you desperately seek, and you know it. Don’t dare stand there and lie to me. But you’re gonna get this close and then you’re gonna find out the worst thing that a pure wrestler, a sporting wrestler like you could ever find out, and it’s simple… you’re just not that good.”

Responding to Cody calling him a liar, the former 2-time World Champion Gunther bragged about past accomplishments.

Gunther: “You think I’m a liar? I promised Bill Goldberg that I would choke him out, and I did. I promised AJ Styles that I would choke him out, and I did. I promised your big role model and hero, John Cena, that I would make him tap out, and I did. Now, I’m promising you, that on Sunday, I’m gonna choke you out, I’m gonna drop you like a wet towel, I’m gonna take this precious prize with me.”

Cody Rhodes Hit Cross Rhodes On Gunther After SmackDown

When the SmackDown cameras stopped rolling in Barcelona, the crafty heel Gunther tried to attack the WWE Champion Rhodes from behind, but it didn’t work because Cody was able to counter it. That led to Cody hitting a Cross Rhodes on Gunther, sending the fans home happy.

During the WWE SmackDown broadcast, it was announced that the Cody Rhodes-Gunther match for the Undisputed WWE Title will be on at the start of Clash in Italy and will also air for free on ESPN for the first hour of broadcast.

WWE Clash in Italy takes place on Sunday, May 31st. Here’s the lineup.

* Tribal Combat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu

* Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther

* WWE Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Jade Cargill

* Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar

* Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sol Ruca

You can watch WWE Clash in Italy on Sunday, May 31, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan in the United States and Netflix internationally.

Also Read: Cody Rhodes Names THIS WWE Star As Dream Opponent: “The Likelihood Of It Happening, Who Knows?