Zayn walks away as Gunther chokes out Rhodes on SmackDown
Zayn walks away as Gunther chokes out Rhodes on SmackDown
Sami Zayn declined to intervene as Gunther choked out Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes following their singles match on SmackDown at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 22, 2026. After staring down Gunther as the assault began, Zayn shook his head, turned his back, and walked away – a moment that sharpened the already complicated dynamics surrounding Rhodes ahead of Clash in Italy.
The match itself stemmed from Zayn’s public frustration over his perceived lack of prominence on the roster. His decision to label Rhodes a “golden boy” prompted the champion to request the bout, which SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis sanctioned. Rhodes entered the match aware that Gunther – who earned a championship shot at Clash in Italy after Paul Heyman called in a favor on his behalf – could appear at any point. Gunther did exactly that, slipping into the ring and applying a sleeperhold while the referee’s view was blocked, only to be knocked to the floor by Zayn before Rhodes hit a Cross Rhodes to win. Gunther then re-entered and attacked Rhodes, at which point Zayn chose to leave rather than assist.
Elsewhere on the same card, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley formally challenged Jade Cargill to a title match at Clash in Italy, citing weeks of attacks by Cargill and her associates Michin and B-Fab as the catalyst. Cargill’s group later stormed the ring following a tag team match involving Ripley and Charlotte Flair, also targeting Flair and Alexa Bliss – an exchange that served as a preview of a six-woman tag team match scheduled for Saturday Night’s Main Event.
With Clash in Italy approaching, Rhodes now faces Gunther for the Undisputed WWE Championship while carrying the additional uncertainty of where Zayn’s allegiances lie. Ripley’s women’s title defence against Cargill adds a second high-profile singles match to the card, with the rivalry between the two factions having already spilled beyond their direct opponents.
