On the May 1st, 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and a debuting Ricky Saints had a match for the ages, until Gunther crashed the party. Saints were there looking to “relieve” Rhodes of his duty as the QB1 of SmackDown, as well as making his intentions clear for the Undisputed WWE Championships, leading to the two men having a showdown of a lifetime, and then, Gunther would show up.
Gunther Takes Over WWE SmackDown
Gunther just had an amazing match with Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42, putting the “Architect” to sleep. Now, it seems like Gunther has a new target. After Cody Rhodes had a supreme battle with Ricky Saints, once that bell rang that signaled the end of the match, Rhodes would not have time to celebrate as the “Ring General” stormed the ring and choked out Cody Rhodes with a Sleeper Hold.
The message was sent, and the intentions were clear: Gunther is aiming to be Undisputed WWE Champion, hoisting up the title, in front of the WWE Universe in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Rhodes and Gunther have a long history that began at the 2023 Royal Rumble Match, where these men were the final two competitors of the match, which Reigns ended up winning. In the 2024 Royal Rumble match, the two once again ran into each other, and the results were the same: Cody Rhodes owned Gunther.
Not only that, but when the first-ever Men’s Crown Jewel Champion was about to be crowned, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and then World Heavyweight Champion Gunther found themselves across the ring from one another, and it was the same result.
But now, Gunther is not the same man he was two years ago; he has ended the careers of AJ Styles, Goldberg, and the “Greatest of All-Time” John Cena. Gunther has his eyes set on Cody Rhodes, and if the past year is anything to go by, we may be witnessing an #AndNEW WWE Champion sooner rather than later.
.@Gunther_AUT has his sights set on the Undisputed WWE Championship 😳 pic.twitter.com/A1raFyFt1q
— WWE (@WWE) May 2, 2026
