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Cody Rhodes and Gunther faced off to end “Friday Night SmackDown,” with the former defending the undisputed WWE title against the latter during the Clash in Italy on Sunday.
Rhodes had reason to be upset. Gunther was forced into a title match thanks to a favor Paul Heyman owed him. Gunther attacked Rhodes from behind several times over the next week. Gunther promised the sneak attacks were over as he came out to address Rhodes.
Gunther once again had some pointed words for Rhodes.
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Gunther and Cody Rhodes face off on Friday Night Smackdown at the Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain on May 29, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
“I’m pretty new to ‘SmackDown,’ but I quickly realized that this show needs to be all about you,” Gunther began. “And if it’s not about you, you find a way to talk about yourself. And maybe it’s not your fault, Cody, because you’re just a product of the culture you grew up in, where selfishness and narcissism and nepotism are rewarded. That puts you one step ahead of everyone else. And it’s only fitting that your name is ‘American Nightmare,’ because right now, you’re the perfect symbol of the crumbling American dream.
“I know what you’re thinking, maybe it’s low-hanging fruit. But I’m talking about the concept of the American dream. What they told me when I was a kid was that if you want to maximize your life, you have to leave home behind, you have to move to America and with discipline and hard work and sacrifice, you can achieve anything. I did that. I earned the position I’m in. Whereas for you, it was all just a phone call away.”
Gunther reviewed Rhodes’ professional wrestling career and everything he did was just a phone call away. He said that made Rhodes “an entitled little kid.” Gunther said that, to him, it was all useless. He said his goal was to “protect this sacred sport” from people like him and that he was a “brand” for himself.
Rhodes said Gunther was a “liar.”
“Yeah, because every kid dreams of becoming a professional wrestler, wearing the chip and not getting that attention, right? You don’t want the attention that comes with carrying the WWE Championship. You don’t want to be on the poster for Clash in Italy. You don’t want to be in the first hour of ESPN on the featured match. You don’t want the third party appearance, the talk shows, the media, you don’t You don’t want the clout that comes with the WWE Championship. You don’t want a crowd that knows and signs every word of your song.
“I’m going to tell you something – I know you want it. Otherwise, I’d be talking to a 330-pound version of yourself in front of a few hundred people on an independent show. But instead, I’m talking to the most polished, dangerous, high-achieving athlete you’ve created yourself.”
Rhodes said he was going to get “as close” as Gunther was “desperately” looking for him and that he was going to discover the worst thing he could ever discover.
“You’re just not that good,” reminding Gunther that he was “easy to find, but hard to beat.”
Gunther retorted that he had eliminated legends like Goldberg, AJ Styles and John Cena and that Rhodes would be next on his list.
A “lesson” from Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn wins his match on Friday Night Smackdown at the Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain on May 29, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Sami Zayn left Cody Rhodes in the ring to get attacked by Gunther last week on “Friday Night SmackDown.” Gunther put Rhodes in a hold while Zayn turned his back and walked down the ramp after his own loss to the undisputed WWE Champion.
Zayn addressed Rhodes early in the night. Rhodes and Zayn met in the back. The “American Nightmare” said he had nothing to say to Zayn after last week.
“Maybe you should. Maybe you should start by saying you’re ‘sorry’. Last week, I didn’t ask for a fight with you,” Zayn said. “I didn’t want to fight my friend. You asked for this fight. And still, despite everything that happened between you and me, when Gunther got involved last week and started choking you, what did I do? I had your back. I took care of him. I did the right thing. I tried to help you. And how did you repay me? You planted me with the Cross Rhodes from behind like a knife in the back.”
Rhodes questioned Zayn’s feelings. He reminded Zayn that he was the one watching him choke.
“I wanted to help, Cody. Every instinct in me said, ‘Help him. Help him.’ I wanted to do that. Do you know why? Because that’s how I’m wired. I’m a good guy,” Zayn said. “I’m the last real good guy here apparently. And it took everything in me not to help you right then and there. Do you know why I didn’t? Because as I watched the life disappear from your eyes, my instinct in that moment was to leave you there so you could learn a lesson.”
Rhodes, apoplectic, said that when he was done with Gunther, “I hope I can teach you a lesson too.”
Zayn continued his therapy session with Johnny Gargano. But Gargano was still catatonic. Matt Cardona interrupted the conversation and Zayn tried to show Gargano that he was still being disrespected. Zayn challenged Cardona to a match before the night was over.
Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley exchange words before Clash
Jade Cargill addresses the WWE Universe alongside B-Fab and Michin during Friday Night Smackdown at the Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain on May 29, 2026. (Joe Maher/WWE)
The crowd was hot for Rhea Ripley as Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab came down to the ring to address the fans in Barcelona. Cargill reminded them that she was “unique” and did not need their approval. Michin said that “the future is now.” Just as Cargill’s group was warming up, Ripley interrupted them.
Ripley and Cargill will face off for the WWE women’s title on Sunday at The Clash in Italy – a week after Cargill pinned the champion in a six-man tag team match in Saturday night’s main event.
“Jade, every week you come in here and you try to assert your dominance by acting like 90 percent of your success isn’t due to using people to try to make you look better,” Ripley said. “And the detail you keep forgetting is that when it’s just you and me in that ring, I beat you. I beat you at WrestleMania, and this Sunday I’m going to beat you again. So you can continue to exercise your self-proclaimed dominance, because when the match is over, you’ll be looking at your true champion.”
Cargill smiled as the raven rallied behind “Mami”.
“Do you hear how stupid you sound?” » asked Cargill. “Do you really think this division revolves around you? No, these women you’re talking about, they’re with me because they want a share of power and you’re so weak that you have to work with women who don’t even like you.”
Ripley didn’t come alone. As soon as Cargill mentioned Ripley’s friends, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss headed to the ring. Flair told Cargill not to confuse his own “hype with ignorance.” Bliss agreed that Cargill had a “legendary ego”, but against Bliss and Flair, she had the “resume of a rookie”.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis came down and made a match between Bliss and Cargill after exchanging fighting words. The four women on the outside eventually fought while Cargill and Bliss continued to fight in the ring. Bliss missed Twisted Bliss. Cargill hit Jaded and pinned Bliss for the win.
Cargill added another shot, knocking Jaded onto Bliss on a chair again. Ripley and Flair returned and chased Cargill off before any more damage could be done.
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Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes get closer to the match
Carmelo Hayes and United States Champion Trick Williams face off on Friday Night Smackdown at the Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain on May 29, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Trick Williams has been on fire since he debuted on the SmackDown roster a few months ago. He took advantage of every opportunity given to him, including winning the United States Championship at WrestleMania 42 against Sami Zayn.
Williams said there is no better superstar than him to prove that he is the future of professional wrestling. He declared himself a participant in the King of the Ring tournament
As his legacy grew, the ghosts of NXT’s past haunted him. Carmelo Hayes continued to hover around Williams as it appears the two have been on a collision course for some time. Hayes interrupted Williams’ speech immediately after issuing his decree.
Hayes said King of the Ring was “a grown-up thing” and that once he took care of Ricky Saints, he would take care of Williams. But Williams said Hayes was being “melodramatic” and suggested Hayes was making excuses.
“If you grow an inch for every time you make an excuse, then maybe… you can see Trick Williams face to face, eye to eye, man to man and realize that I’m just better than you,” Williams said as the two came face to face.
The Saints came out and said that no one wants a “telenovela” and they want to see it. Saints said once he was done with Hayes, he would aim for the U.S. title. Williams said the Saints made him “sick.” As the Saints responded, Williams hit him with a backhand slap. He said the winner between Hayes and Saints would get the next title shot.
Both Hayes and Saints would be counted in their match.
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SmackDown match results:
Jade Cargill def. Alexa Bliss.
Axiom def. The Miz.
Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga def. Damian Priest and Royce Keys.
Sami Zayn def. Matt Cardona.
Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints arrive at a double draw.
Chelsea Green def. Jax denied.
