Add as a preferred source on Google Gunther closed out Friday’s WWE SmackDown in dominant fashion, attacking Cody Rhodes right after the Undisputed WWE Champion defeated Sami Zayn in the main event.
The show took place at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
Rhodes and Zayn had already had words backstage after Sami offered to help the champion deal with Gunther. Cody turned him down, tensions escalated, and The American Nightmare ended up proposing the match himself.
In the ring, Zayn spent much of the match targeting Rhodes’ left leg and came close to winning with a Blue Thunder Bomb and a Figure-Four Leglock. Cody fought through it, however, and won after hitting Cross Rhodes.
The attack happened as soon as the match was over. Gunther dropped Rhodes with a clothesline, hit the champion with a powerbomb, and then locked him in a sleeper hold while Sami stood by and did nothing.
Last week, The Ring General defeated Royce Keys to become the official challenger to Cody Rhodes’ title, following a chaotic contract signing on SmackDown. Right after that match, it was Rhodes who attacked Gunther with Cross Rhodes.