SouthernWorldwide.com – Ahead of their championship clash in Italy, WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther has branded Cody Rhodes as the “perfect symbol of the crumbling American dream.” The two titans are set to collide for the Undisputed WWE Championship this Sunday.
The tension between Rhodes and Gunther has been palpable, especially after Gunther was granted a title match due to a favor owed by Paul Heyman. In the week leading up to their showdown, Gunther launched multiple surprise attacks on Rhodes, fueling the animosity.
During a heated confrontation on “Friday Night SmackDown,” Gunther addressed Rhodes directly, delivering a scathing critique of his career and perceived privilege.
“I’m pretty new to ‘SmackDown’ but figured out pretty quickly that this show has to be all about you,” Gunther stated. “And if it’s not about you, you find a way to make it about yourself. And it might not be your fault, Cody, because you’re just a product of the culture you grew up in where egotism and narcissism and nepotism gets rewarded. It gets you one ahead of everybody else. And it’s very fitting that your name is the ‘American Nightmare’ because right now, you’re the perfect symbol of the crumbling American dream.”
Gunther elaborated on his perception of the American dream, contrasting it with what he believes Rhodes represents. “What they told me as a boy is if you want to max out your life, you got to leave home behind, you got to move to America and from discipline, hard work and sacrifice, you can achieve it all. I’ve done that. I’ve earned the position that I’m in. Whereas for you, everything was just one phone call away.”
He continued to criticize Rhodes’ career, suggesting that his achievements were a result of connections rather than merit, labeling him an “entitled brat.” Gunther declared his mission to “protect this sacred sport” from individuals like Rhodes.
Rhodes, however, was quick to retort, calling Gunther a “liar” and questioning his motives.
“Yeah because every kid dreams of becoming a professional wrestler, of carrying 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 on 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 want the weight that comes with the WWE championship. You don’t want a crowd that knows and signs every single word of your song. You don’t want that?”
Rhodes asserted that Gunther clearly desired the spotlight and the championship, highlighting his transformation into a “refined, most dangerous, the peak form of an athlete.” He promised to expose a harsh truth to Gunther: “You’re just not that good.”
Gunther fired back, referencing his victories over legends like Goldberg, A.J. Styles, and John Cena, and declared Rhodes would be his next target.
The episode also saw a tense exchange between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn. Last week, Zayn seemingly abandoned Rhodes to be attacked by Gunther. Zayn confronted Rhodes, expressing his disappointment and hurt.
“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 that fight. And even still, in spite of that, in spite of everything that’s gone on between you and me, when Gunther got involved last week and he started to choke you out, 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 stuck me with the Cross Rhodes from behind like a knife in my back.”
Rhodes questioned Zayn’s sincerity, reminding him that he was the one who watched him being attacked. Zayn explained his actions, stating his instincts told him to help, but he ultimately chose not to, hoping Rhodes would learn a lesson.
In other segments, Trick Williams, the current United States Champion, declared his entry into the King of the Ring Tournament. His declaration was interrupted by Carmelo Hayes, leading to a heated confrontation.
Meanwhile, a rivalry between Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill intensified. The two are set to face off for the WWE Women’s Championship at Clash in Italy. During a segment in Barcelona, Cargill, along with Michin and B-Fab, addressed the crowd, with Cargill asserting her dominance. Ripley interrupted, leading to a verbal sparring match.
“Jade, every single week you come out here and try to throw around your dominance acting like 90% of your success isn’t you using people to try to make yourself look better,” Ripley stated. “And the detail you continue to forget is when it’s just you and me in this ring, I beat you. I beat you at WrestleMania, and this Sunday, I’m gonna beat you again. So, you can continue to throw around your self-claimed dominance, because when the match is done, you will be looking up at your true champion.”
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Cargill dismissed Ripley’s claims, questioning if the division revolved around her and asserting that other women were aligned with her for power. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss then joined Ripley, further challenging Cargill. This led to a match between Alexa Bliss and Jade Cargill, which Cargill won after a brutal display, with Ripley and Flair intervening to prevent further damage.
