Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Gunther and Sami Zayn in a triple-threat match at Night of Champions [1, 2].
The match represents a significant escalation in the championship rivalry following a series of chaotic events on SmackDown. By expanding the title bout to include two challengers, Rhodes seeks to resolve ongoing controversies surrounding his recent defenses and establish a definitive champion.
The confrontation stems from the June 19, 2026 [3] episode of SmackDown, which marked the 1,400th episode of the program [4]. Following a frustrating title defense during that broadcast, Rhodes said he demanded the triple-threat format to increase the level of competition and settle the dispute [2].
The event is scheduled for the weekend of June 26, 2026 [1, 5], in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [1, 2]. This location continues the WWE's trend of hosting major premium live events in the region to expand its global footprint.
While some early previews initially described the main event as a standard title match [3], subsequent reports confirmed the inclusion of both Gunther and Sami Zayn [1, 2]. The three competitors will now battle in a high-stakes environment where the first person to score a pinfall or submission wins the title.
Rhodes, the current Undisputed WWE Champion, enters the match as the target for both challengers. Gunther and Zayn bring contrasting styles to the Riyadh event, with one focused on dominant power and the other on technical resilience, which complicates the champion's defensive strategy.
“Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Gunther and Sami Zayn”
The shift to a triple-threat match increases the volatility of the championship's ownership. Because the champion does not need to be pinned to lose the title in this format, Rhodes has effectively lowered his own security in exchange for a more decisive conclusion to the rivalry.
