3 Things that could happen if Gunther wins the Undisputed WWE Championship

”
], { type: “text/html” }
);
const iframe = document.createElement(“iframe”);
iframe.src = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
iframe.style.cssText = “width:100%;height:100%;border:0;”;
container.appendChild(iframe);
attachIframeMessageListener(iframe);
}
const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, obs) => {
const entry = entries[0];
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
obs.unobserve(entry.target);
requestIdleCallback(() => {
initWidget(entry.target);
}, {
timeout: 200
});
}
}, {
root: null,
rootMargin: “300px 0px”,
threshold: 0.01
});
requestIdleCallback(() => {
$all(“.nl-inline-form-container”).forEach((c) => {
observer.observe(c);
});
});
})();

That said, in this article, we look at three things that could happen if Gunther wins the Undisputed WWE Championship.

#3. Cody Rhodes could demand a rematch

If Gunther defeats Cody Rhodes at Clash in Italy, it would be difficult to imagine The American Nightmare quietly walking away from the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.

Cody has spent the last few years building himself as a top babyface and one of the company’s biggest attractions. Since finally finishing his story and capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship, Rhodes has consistently overcome some of the toughest opponents in the company. Hence, losing the title to The Ring General would be a devastating setback for him.

Because of that, The American Nightmare would likely demand an immediate rematch. The company has already invested heavily in the rivalry between the two stars. Gunther’s shocking attack on Cody on SmackDown following WrestleMania 42 immediately created tension between the two men.

The feud has since become one of the blue brand’s biggest storylines heading into Clash in Italy. If The Career Killer wins the title, the global juggernaut could easily continue the rivalry into the summer.

There are also several ways the company could protect Cody Rhodes in defeat. Randy Orton’s possible involvement, or a controversial finish, could allow Cody to argue that Gunther did not truly beat him fairly. That would give The American Nightmare enough justification to continue chasing the championship.

More importantly, Cody Rhodes has never been portrayed as someone who gives up after failure. One of the defining traits of his WWE run has been resilience. Cody has consistently bounced back stronger after setbacks. Hence, a title loss to Gunther may push him into becoming even more obsessed with reclaiming his title.

The rivalry itself also feels too massive to end after just one premium live event match. Cody Rhodes and Gunther are arguably two of WWE’s best storytellers inside the ring today. Hence, Triple H may prefer extending the feud throughout the summer rather than ending it immediately after Clash in Italy.

#2. Gunther could kick off a feud with Royce Keys on SmackDown

If Gunther captures the Undisputed WWE Championship, the company could revisit his history with Royce Keys and turn it into the Austrian star’s first major title feud on SmackDown.

Before earning his championship opportunity against Cody Rhodes, Gunther defeated Royce Keys in a No. 1 Contender’s Match to secure his place at Clash in Italy. While many fans initially viewed Keys as an underdog in that encounter, the young star impressed several viewers with his performance against The Ring General.

That match may have quietly planted the seeds for a bigger storyline. If Gunther becomes champion, Royce Keys could remind everyone that he was one of the few superstars willing to stand up to The Ring General on SmackDown. WWE has consistently looked for opportunities to elevate younger talent in 2026. Hence, a feud with The Career Killer would instantly raise Keys’ profile.

The storyline would also make sense from Gunther’s perspective. The Ring General has always carried himself as a dominant champion who believes nobody is on his level. After defeating Cody Rhodes, he may begin dismissing the rest of SmackDown’s roster entirely. Royce Keys stepping up to challenge that arrogance could create an interesting dynamic between the veteran champion and an ambitious younger star trying to prove himself.

The creative team could even present Keys as someone who learned from his previous loss. Instead of portraying him as an easy challenger, the company may show Royce returning more prepared, more aggressive, and more determined to shock the world. Fans often rally behind underdog babyfaces, especially when they are going up against a dominant heel champion like Gunther.

Another reason this feud could happen is timing. If Cody Rhodes takes a short break after losing the title, SmackDown would immediately need fresh challengers for Gunther. While many other top stars could eventually step into the title picture, Royce Keys might serve as an effective transitional feud to help establish Gunther’s championship reign.

Most importantly, the rivalry could help the creative team create a brand-new star. Even if Keys ultimately loses again, simply competing for the Undisputed WWE Championship against someone as dominant as Gunther could significantly boost his credibility moving forward.

#1. Cody Rhodes could take time off WWE

If Gunther wins the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash in Italy, the company may decide it is the perfect moment to temporarily write Cody Rhodes off television.

The American Nightmare has been one of WWE’s most active and prominently featured stars for several years. He has headlined major premium live events and served as the top babyface on SmackDown, consistently staying at the forefront of the company’s programming.

Because of that demanding schedule, a short hiatus could benefit both Rhodes and the global juggernaut creatively. A loss to Gunther would provide the perfect storyline explanation for Cody stepping away.

After losing the Undisputed WWE Championship, The American Nightmare could portray himself as emotionally exhausted and mentally devastated. The company often uses major championship defeats as a way to temporarily remove top stars from television while refreshing their characters.

The break could also make Cody Rhodes’ eventual return feel far bigger. Absence has historically worked well for major WWE babyfaces. When a top star disappears for a few months, fans usually become even more excited for their comeback. Cody returning later in 2026 to possibly reclaim the championship from Gunther could therefore become an even bigger storyline than their original feud.

Most importantly, Gunther winning the Undisputed WWE Championship could signal the beginning of a completely new era on SmackDown. With Cody Rhodes temporarily absent, The Ring General would have the opportunity to establish himself as the dominant face of the blue brand.

`;
if (index == 3 && isOpera) {
storyHTML += `

`;
}
recommendedArticlesContainer.innerHTML += storyHTML;
});
}
}
function getStoryActionHTML(story, storyTitle, permalink) {
if (shouldHidePostActions) return “”;
return `

`;
}
function recommendedArticles() {
var baseUrl = “https://cf-gotham.sportskeeda.com/recommendations/post/3-things-happen-gunther-wins-undisputed-wwe-championship?lang=en&category=wwe”;
pureJSAjaxGet(baseUrl, function(data) {
renderRecommendedArticles(data);
if (isOpera) {
renderOperaFeedAd();
}
}, function() {}, false);
}
var options = {
root: null,
rootMargin: “0px 0px 70% 0px”,
threshold: 0.1
};
var observer = new IntersectionObserver(function (entries) {
entries.forEach(function (entry) {
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
recommendedArticles();
observer.unobserve(entry.target);
}
});
}, options);
var targetElement;
if (showAlsoReadSection && !showAlsoReadSectionV2) {
targetElement = document.querySelector(‘.also-read-articles-container’);
} else {
targetElement = document.querySelector(‘.recommended-posts’);
}
if (targetElement) {
observer.observe(targetElement);
}
function renderOperaFeedAd() {
var operaFeedArticleAd = $(“.opera-article-feed-ad”);
if (!operaFeedArticleAd) {
return;
}
var firstScript= document.createElement(‘script’);
firstScript.setAttribute(“type”, “text/javascript”);
firstScript.setAttribute(“src”, “https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1883810847636355”);
firstScript.setAttribute(“async”, true);
firstScript.setAttribute(“crossorigin”, “anonymous”);
operaFeedArticleAd.appendChild(firstScript);
operaFeedArticleAd.innerHTML += `

`;
var secondScript = document.createElement(‘script’);
var secondScriptCode=””;
try {
secondScript.appendChild(document.createTextNode(secondScriptCode));
operaFeedArticleAd.appendChild(secondScript);
} catch (e) {
console.error(e);
}
}
})();

Fetching more content…