Gunther accuses Cody Rhodes of making his SmackDown arrival about himself ‘just like a typical American’

Gunther had 2 decisions to marque connected "Friday Night SmackDown."

After helium failed to motion a declaration with SmackDown, the favour helium wanted from Paul Heyman appeared to travel to fruition. Heyman got Gunther a lucifer astatine Clash successful Italy for Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship.

Heyman enactment the onus connected Rhodes – the look of the bluish marque – to marque Gunther motion the contracts. Rhodes got to the ringing and setup the tables and chairs himself arsenic helium awaited Gunther to travel to the ring.

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Wrestler Gunther makes his entranceway during SmackDown astatine Colonial Life Arena successful Columbia, S.C., connected May 15, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE)

Gunther was upset that Rhodes allegedly impeded connected Gunther’s "strategic planning" that went into signing with SmackDown. He said Rhodes made his accomplishment to SmackDown each astir himself.

"Just similar a emblematic American. I shouldn’t beryllium surprised. I spot it connected your cervix each week," the 6-foot-4 Austrian said of Rhodes’ cervix tattoo. "When the attraction is not connected you, you cry, you kick and you find a mode to marque it each astir yourself. But not similar me. This is my deal. This is my rubric match. This volition beryllium my title. So, aureate boy, each I privation you to bash is beryllium professional, code maine nicely and don’t hide to accidental please. It’s precise simple."

Rhodes reminded that Gunther "got the drop" connected him and that helium got Heyman to bash a favour for him.

"Yes, I’m the 1 with the U.S. emblem connected the broadside of my neck, sure, but you’re the 1 who’s making it weird," Rhodes responded. "So, here’s the thing, I’m going to marque it simple. This is the declaration close here. It’s successful this ring. That’s wherever you request to beryllium and you request to motion it. You privation maine to accidental please? Sure, delight travel to this ring, motion this declaration truthful that you’re guaranteed to get your a-- kicked astatine Clash successful Italy."

Royce Keys interrupted the conception and told Gunther that if helium wouldn’t motion the contract, helium would. Keys marched to the ringing and was astir to motion the declaration earlier Gunther took the pen away.

SmackDown wide manager Nick Aldis said Gunther "over played" his manus and that helium wasn’t guaranteed a changeable anymore. Aldis made a lucifer betwixt Gunther and Keys for aboriginal successful the night.

Keys went into the lucifer inactive with Solo Sikoa successful his receptor trying to get him to articulation forces with him, Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga. With Sikoa perchance successful his caput and aboriginal connected the extracurricular of the ringing successful his corner, helium came into the SmackDown main lawsuit looking to leap to the apical of the title ladder.

Gunther gave everything Keys could handle, but couldn’t support the large antheral down. Keys showed wherefore helium was a unit to beryllium reckoned with. However, Keys conscionable couldn’t get a pin connected him.

When the referee went down, Sikoa slid a seat successful and tried to goad Keys into utilizing it. Keys threw it backmost astatine Sikoa. It was the distraction that Gunther needed. The ref got backmost up, Gunther powerbombed Keys and pinned him for the win.

Cody Rhodes stands implicit Gunther during SmackDown astatine Colonial Life Arena successful Columbia, S.C., connected May 15, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE)

Rhodes attacked Gunther from down arsenic the "Career Killer" was celebrating the victory.

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Carmelo Hayes, Ricky Saints showcase aboriginal of SmackDown

Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints correspond the aboriginal of SmackDown and the 2 were successful enactment during the nighttime arsenic they some looked to look arsenic contenders for the United States Championship.

Hayes, a erstwhile U.S. champion himself, was making his archetypal quality successful the ringing since April 3 erstwhile helium mislaid his rematch for the rubric against Sami Zayn. Hayes didn’t look to amusement immoderate benignant of ringing rust arsenic helium took the onslaught to Saints early.

But Saints, the savvy erstwhile NXT and North American champion, got his accidental to dilatory down the lucifer and instrumentality it to Hayes. He showboated his mode done the lucifer arsenic helium deed dropkicks, suplexes, chops and much to deterioration down Hayes.

Ricky Saints makes his entranceway during SmackDown astatine Colonial Life Arena successful Columbia, S.C., connected May 15, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE)

Hayes avoided a superplex effort and turned the tables connected Saints, hitting a frog splash. He lone picked up a 2 count. The 2 men were staggered and stunned arsenic they hoped for the win. Saints adjacent broke retired a high-angled driver, but lone got a 2 count.

Saints was surviving everything Hayes was giving him. After Saints kicked retired of the First 48, helium deed a Revolution DDT connected Hayes, but again, lone got a 2 count. Saints tried to cheat to get the win, but referee Charles Robinson caught him and stopped his count.

As Saints argued with Robinson, Hayes rolled up Saints and utilized the ropes for leverage to get the pin. Robinson didn’t spot the determination and Hayes got the win.

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SmackDown lucifer results

Trick Williams def. The Miz

Paige and Brie Bella def. Giulia and Kiana James.

Carmelo Hayes def. Ricky Saints

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss def. Michin and B-Fab via DQ.

Gunther def. Royce Keys.