Gunther attacked Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes during the May 1, 2026, episode of SmackDown [1].
The confrontation escalates a high-stakes rivalry between the two athletes as they move toward a future championship match [2].
The incident occurred at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma [3]. Earlier in the evening, Rhodes defeated Ricky Saints in a non-title match [4]. Following the victory, Gunther intervened and choked out the champion [5].
This attack follows a series of volatile encounters between the two. Reports indicate that Rhodes previously defeated Gunther at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool [6]. That victory occurred just days before a scheduled WWE Clash in Italy event [7].
Despite the previous win for Rhodes, Gunther used the Tulsa broadcast to assert dominance. The physical nature of the assault serves as a narrative bridge to a title match, positioning Gunther as a primary threat to Rhodes' reign [2].
WWE officials have not yet announced the official date for the title clash. However, the intensity of the May 1 encounter suggests the match will be a focal point of the upcoming programming schedule [2].
“Gunther choked out Cody Rhodes”
This sequence of events establishes a psychological advantage for Gunther heading into a title match. By neutralizing the champion in a public setting after a victory, Gunther shifts the momentum from Rhodes' previous win in Liverpool, framing the upcoming championship bout as a quest for redemption and dominance.
