Gunther is now officially on WWE SmackDown, and it’s actually a really interesting turn of events regarding how the “Ring General” made his way to Friday Night Night, as we found out on this week’s May 8, 2026, episode in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Ring General Marches to WWE SmackDown, Clash in Italy Match Set
Gunther made the biggest impact on last week’s SmackDown as he would choke out QB1, the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, in the middle of the ring after a hard-fought battle against the debuting Ricky Saints. Now, Gunther is officially part of the SmackDown roster.
During the night, we saw the “Oracle” Paul Heyman roll up to the show, heading straight for SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis’ office. Turns out, Paul Heyman acted as the liaison for Gunther, leading to his arrival on WWE SmackDown. Gunther is no stranger to WWE SmackDown, making his mark with the longest run as Intercontinental Champion, and he did most of that work as part of the Blue brand all those years ago.
Aldis would welcome Gunther to his show; however, backstage, they saw Cody Rhodes make his way to the ring on the TV screen present in the office. Gunther was livid, but Heyman said he’ll take care of it. Rhodes would speak, saying if Gunther wants to do it, they’re both here in Jacksonville, and he could come and get the Undisputed WWE Championship.
As Heyman made his way to the ring, Rhodes asked if he was the “new advocate” of Gunther, with Heyman saying he’s just returning a favor. The contract is part of that, with Heyman stating that Gunther has officially landed an Undisputed WWE Title Match on May 31st at Clash in Italy.
Paul Heyman said that since Rhodes is so fired up, he could get Gunther’s signature for Clash in Italy himself. Cody Rhodes would try to embarrass Heyman, saying Brock Lesnar retired on him, Roman Reigns wants nothing to do with him, and CM Punk discarded him, and asked if this is a ploy since he’s out of options.
Heyman would bring back the insult, taking into account Rhodes’ rough month and a half, saying he’s the one out of options. Gunther would storm the ring, trying to choke out Cody Rhodes again. Rhodes would ward off the attack, saying he’s “not sweating” Gunther, even after he retired Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles. He’s the man on SmackDown, and if he wants some, he’s not hard to find, only hard to beat.
Gunther may have been absolutely dominant over the past year; however, it’s safe to say that the thought of never beating Cody Rhodes is eating him up. Time and again, the “American Nightmare” would best the “Ring General.” Now, Gunther has the opportunity of a lifetime to not only beat Cody once and for all but also become the Undisputed WWE Champion.
