Gunther vowed to put Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to sleep during a Friday night episode of SmackDown [1].
The confrontation serves as the final build-up before the two athletes meet for the championship title at Clash in Italy. This encounter establishes the psychological stakes for the challenger, who seeks to end Rhodes' reign as champion.
The segment took place on May 29, 2026 [1], at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain [3]. During the broadcast, Gunther said he intended to put Rhodes to sleep [4]. Following the official conclusion of the SmackDown broadcast, Gunther attempted to ambush the champion to gain a physical advantage before their upcoming match [2].
Gunther entered this rivalry after securing the position of No. 1 contender following a narrow victory over Royce Keys [1]. The tension between the two competitors has escalated as they move toward the title match, which is scheduled for June 1, 2026 [2]. This timeline leaves only two days between the Barcelona confrontation and the championship bout in Italy [2].
Rhodes has remained the target of Gunther's aggression as the champion attempts to maintain his hold on the Undisputed WWE Championship. While Paul Heyman was mentioned in the context of the surrounding events, the primary focus remained on the direct conflict between the challenger and the title holder [1].
The ambush attempt after the show went off the air highlights Gunther's willingness to bypass traditional match structures to destabilize Rhodes. By attacking outside the scripted time limits of the broadcast, Gunther attempted to shift the momentum of the feud in his favor just 48 hours before the event [2].
“Gunther vowed to "put Cody Rhodes to sleep"”
This sequence of events follows a traditional professional wrestling narrative arc where the challenger attempts to compromise the champion's physical or mental state immediately preceding a major event. By utilizing an 'off-air' ambush, the storyline emphasizes Gunther's ruthless persona and positions the Clash in Italy match as a high-stakes confrontation where the champion is entering the ring under significant pressure.
