Cody Rhodes vs Gunther is officially confirmed for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WWE Clash in Italy on Sunday, May 31 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. The match was set up through a Paul Heyman-brokered contract on the go-home SmackDown May 8 from Jacksonville — with Heyman revealing that Gunther’s championship opportunity would not take place at Backlash in Tampa, but at WWE’s first-ever premium live event in Italy three weeks later.
Here is everything we know about the Cody Rhodes vs Gunther match at Clash in Italy, how the feud was set up, why the match was moved from Backlash, and what it means for both superstars heading into the biggest PLE on WWE’s European Summer Tour.
How Cody Rhodes vs Gunther Was Confirmed For Clash In Italy
The Rhodes-Gunther rivalry exploded over two weeks of SmackDown television:
SmackDown May 1 — Gunther attacks Rhodes: After Rhodes defeated Ricky Saints in his first match back from his WrestleMania orbital injury, Gunther appeared out of nowhere and choked out the Undisputed WWE Champion with the sleeper hold. The Ring General — who had been a Raw superstar — stood tall holding Rhodes’ championship belt. The attack immediately inserted Gunther into the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.
SmackDown May 8 — Heyman brokers the contract: With Gunther backstage preparing to sign his SmackDown transfer contract, Rhodes made his entrance and called Gunther out to the ring. Instead, Paul Heyman appeared holding a contract. Heyman explained he owed Gunther a favour — and the favour was brokering a title match. But not at Backlash and not even in the United States.
Heyman revealed the contract was for Cody Rhodes vs Gunther for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash in Italy in Turin on May 31. Heyman handed Rhodes the contract and told him that if he wanted Gunther’s signature, he would have to get it himself. Gunther refused to sign in the same room as Rhodes, storming out backstage.
After Heyman left, Gunther slid into the ring behind Rhodes and attempted the Gojira Clutch. Rhodes fought him off, spiked Gunther with the microphone, and escaped a second Gojira Clutch attempt before throwing Gunther through the ropes. Rhodes then delivered a defiant message: “You think retiring Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles has me scared? On SmackDown, I’m easy to find and hard to beat.”
The contract remains unsigned by Gunther heading into Backlash — both men are expected in Tampa tomorrow for a signing segment.
Why Gunther And Cody Rhodes Won’t Clash At Backlash 2026
Many fans and outlets — including CBS Sports and The Dakia — expected Cody Rhodes vs Gunther to be the Undisputed WWE Championship match at Backlash on May 9. Instead, WWE made a deliberate creative decision to save the match for a bigger stage. Here is why:
Clash in Italy is a marquee event that needs a headline match. WWE’s first-ever PLE in Italy needs a main-event calibre Undisputed WWE Championship match to justify the occasion. Rhodes vs Gunther — two of the most technically gifted wrestlers in the world — is exactly the kind of match that elevates a new event. WWE used the same strategy with Clash at the Castle (Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns) and Clash in Paris (Gunther vs Cody Rhodes was rumoured before the card was finalised).
Backlash already has its main event. Roman Reigns vs Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship is the Backlash headliner, and it’s been built across four weeks of television. Adding Rhodes vs Gunther would have split the audience’s attention between two world title matches.
The three-week gap builds anticipation. Gunther’s unsigned contract creates a storyline that runs from Backlash (May 9) through three more weeks of SmackDown television before Clash in Italy (May 31). This gives WWE time to build the rivalry properly rather than rushing it onto a card 10 days after the attack.
Heyman’s involvement adds layers. By brokering the match, Heyman connects the Reigns/Fatu storyline to the Rhodes/Gunther storyline through a shared intermediary — creating the kind of interconnected storytelling that defined the Bloodline saga.
Both Rhodes and Gunther are still expected to appear at Backlash tomorrow, likely in a segment where Rhodes confronts Gunther to secure his signature on the Clash in Italy contract.
When Is WWE Clash In Italy 2026?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | WWE Clash in Italy 2026 |
| Date | Sunday, May 31, 2026 |
| Venue | Inalpi Arena, Turin, Italy |
| Capacity | Approximately 15,000 for WWE events |
| Confirmed Match | Cody Rhodes (c) vs Gunther — Undisputed WWE Championship |
| Part Of | WWE European Summer Tour 2026 |
Clash in Italy is WWE’s first-ever premium live event in Italy and the fourth event in the “Clash” series following Clash at the Castle 2022 (Cardiff), Clash at the Castle 2024 (Glasgow), and Clash in Paris 2025. The event forms part of a massive European Summer Tour that includes SmackDown from Barcelona (May 29), Raw from Turin (June 1), house shows across France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, and Raw from Paris (June 8) and London (June 22).
Start time and how-to-watch details for Clash in Italy have not yet been announced. A dedicated start time guide for all time zones will be published on The Dakia closer to the event.
Gunther’s Move To SmackDown Explained
Gunther was a Raw superstar until his attack on Rhodes on SmackDown May 1. On SmackDown May 8, Heyman was shown backstage with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis preparing Gunther’s SmackDown transfer contract — confirming that The Ring General has officially moved to the blue brand.
The move makes strategic sense. Gunther’s “Career Killer” persona — having retired John Cena, Goldberg, and AJ Styles over the past year — needs the biggest possible target. On Raw, he had already beaten Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42. On SmackDown, the Undisputed WWE Championship and Cody Rhodes represent the ultimate prize. Gunther is now positioned as the most dangerous challenger Rhodes has faced since winning the title.
For the latest WWE roster updates including Gunther’s brand assignment, see the WWE roster 2026 page.
What Cody Rhodes vs Gunther Means For WWE’s Championship Landscape
This match has implications beyond just the Undisputed WWE Championship. Both Rhodes and Gunther are expected at Backlash tonight for a contract signing segment despite their championship match being moved to Italy on May 31.
Gunther’s retirement streak is on the line. If Gunther defeats Rhodes, he becomes the Undisputed WWE Champion and adds another scalp to his career-killing resume. If Rhodes wins, Gunther’s aura of invincibility takes its first major hit since his WrestleMania loss to Sami Zayn in 2024.
Rhodes’ championship reign faces its sternest test. Rhodes has held the Undisputed WWE Championship since March 2026, surviving Randy Orton at WrestleMania and Ricky Saints on SmackDown. Gunther represents a fundamentally different challenge — a technical master who has ended careers through sheer dominance.
The SummerSlam picture depends on the outcome. SummerSlam 2026 takes place in Minneapolis on August 1-2. The winner of Rhodes vs Gunther at Clash in Italy will likely headline SummerSlam — potentially against CM Punk, who teased a future Undisputed WWE Championship match on Raw After WrestleMania.
The first Raw of the Clash in Italy build confirmed Jacob Fatu destroyed Roman Reigns’ acknowledgment ceremony, pointing to a World Heavyweight Championship rematch in Turin — see the Raw results May 11 2026 for full details.
For the latest WWE news, Backlash coverage, and Clash in Italy updates, follow the WWE section on The Dakia.
