Gunther attacks Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on SmackDown

Gunther ambushed Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes during the May 1, 2026 ^[1], episode of WWE SmackDown in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The attack signals a potential shift in the championship landscape, as Gunther targets the top titleholder to disrupt his current reign.

The incident took place after Rhodes completed a match on the broadcast. Gunther launched a surprise assault on the champion, marking a violent turn in the ongoing narrative of the Undisputed WWE Championship. The ambush occurred shortly after the debut match of Ricky Saints, who suffered a loss in his first appearance ^[2].

Reports from the event indicate that the attack was a calculated move to derail the momentum of the champion. While most sources confirm Gunther as the aggressor, some reports provided conflicting accounts regarding the participants involved in the segment ^[3]. However, the primary footage and reporting from the Tulsa event highlight Gunther as the primary assailant in the confrontation.

Rhodes has maintained a high profile as the face of the company, but this physical confrontation introduces a new challenger into the title picture. The timing of the attack suggests a strategic attempt to weaken the champion before a future title defense. The event in Tulsa served as the backdrop for this escalation, leaving the champion vulnerable and the challenger in a position of power.

WWE has not yet announced a formal match date to resolve the conflict. The company continues to build the narrative surrounding the Undisputed Championship as it moves toward its next major event. The physical toll of the attack on Rhodes remains a central point of the storyline as the roster reacts to the violence in Oklahoma.