Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will feature a crucial announcement. Gunther will reveal the stipulation for his upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes.
The Ring General and The American Nightmare have been feuding for weeks. Gunther moved to SmackDown following WrestleMania 42. He earned an Undisputed WWE Championship shot by defeating Royce Keys in a number one contender’s match. The former world champions squared off in a title match at Clash in Italy last month.
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Rhodes picked up a controversial win over Gunther in Turin, Italy. The Austrian Anomaly’s foot was under the bottom rope when The Prodigal Son successfully pinned him. Gunther was furious due to the match’s outcome. On the Clash in Italy Post-Show, The American Nightmare said he would grant his rival another title shot.
Last week on WWE SmackDown, it was announced that Gunther and Cody Rhodes will collide in another title match on June 19. The Ring General will get to pick the stipulation for the upcoming championship contest. Rhodes and The Austrian Anomaly will likely come face-to-face again tonight. Things are bound to get explosive if the duo confronts each other one week before their title rematch.
The American Nightmare’s evolving relationship with Sami Zayn has also captured fans’ attention. In this article, we will discuss three things Cody Rhodes can do on WWE SmackDown this week.
#3. Cody Rhodes and Gunther could engage in another brawl
Cody Rhodes arguably has the upper hand in his feud against Gunther on WWE SmackDown. He picked up a massive win over the former World Heavyweight Champion at Clash in Italy. Rhodes will walk into his rematch against The Ring General with significant momentum on his side.
The Austrian Anomaly has revenge on his mind. He is hell-bent on dethroning Rhodes as the Undisputed WWE Champion after being humiliated in Italy. After he discloses the stipulation for the upcoming title match, Gunther could engage in another brawl with Rhodes.
On tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Gunther and Cody Rhodes could feature in a heated promo battle and exchange insults. The Ring General could lose his cool during the segment and launch an attack on The American Nightmare. They could have a back-and-forth scuffle before being separated by WWE officials.
#2. Cody Rhodes could have a heated argument with Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes are close friends on WWE TV. However, they have had a tumultuous relationship in recent months. Zayn has grown tired of losing high-stakes matches and being unable to become a world champion in WWE. He has been seen butting heads with The American Nightmare in backstage segments.
Rhodes and Zayn locked horns in a singles match on an episode of WWE SmackDown before Clash in Italy. The Prodigal Son defeated Zayn before Gunther attacked him in the ring. The Master Strategist had the option to save his friend from the beatdown, but he chose not to.
The following week, Zayn said he didn’t save Rhodes because he wanted to teach him a lesson. The former Intercontinental Champion’s actions didn’t sit well with The American Nightmare. Given the developments, WWE seems to be setting up a feud between the duo. Last week, The Master Strategist suffered an attack by Gunther due to the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Rhodes and Zayn could engage in another heated argument on tonight’s WWE SmackDown after last Friday’s mix-up. The interaction could tease The Master Strategist’s much-awaited heel turn and the imminent world title match between the duo.
The American Nightmare is widely expected to defend his gold against Zayn and Gunther in a Triple Threat Match at Night of Champions 2026. WWE could lay the foundation for the rumored bout on this week’s SmackDown.
#1. Gunther could injure Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown
The Undisputed WWE Championship rematch between Cody Rhodes and Gunther is only a week away. Rhodes has looked extremely strong in his feud against The Ring General. However, it might be time for the challenger to bounce back.
The Austrian Anomaly desperately needs to gain momentum before he goes up against Rhodes again. Hence, he will likely choose a stipulation that heavily favors him. Moreover, he could viciously attack Rhodes and injure him before the contest to secure an edge.
On tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Gunther could strike during Rhodes’ potential argument with Sami Zayn. He could use a foreign object to inflict pain on The Prodigal Son before their rematch. The Austrian Anomaly could injure Rhodes to increase his chances of winning the Undisputed WWE Championship.
An injury angle would allow Rhodes to gain fans’ sympathy after he was seemingly portrayed as a villain with his controversial win at Clash in Italy. It could also make the outcome of the upcoming title match highly unpredictable.
WWE could continue Rhodes’ storyline with Zayn if he fails to protect him from Gunther again. It could increase the tension between the duo and give the creative team a legitimate reason to book them in a full-fledged rivalry.
Edited by Pratik Singh
