Add as a preferred source on Google Gunther’s attack on Cody Rhodes on this week’s Friday Night SmackDown may not have been just a routine attempt to get into the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.
At the show in Tulsa, Rhodes returned to the ring after being cleared by the medical team and defeated Ricky Saints, who was making his main roster debut. Rhodes won after a match that lasted about nine minutes, finishing with a Cross Rhodes.
Right after, Gunther made a surprise appearance, locked the champion in a sleeper hold, and had to be pulled off by three referees. The Austrian even held up Rhodes’ title before leaving the ring, making it clear his target is the top of SmackDown.
The detail that stands out happened earlier. During a backstage segment, Paul Heyman was seen talking to Nick Aldis, and as we know well, Heyman still owes Gunther a favor, which fuels speculation that the sudden appearance may have been facilitated by the Wiseman.
That debt originated on the March 30 Monday Night RAW, when Gunther stopped Seth Rollins from attacking Heyman. The following week, the Ring General made it clear he didn’t want just a thank you.
So far, WWE has not confirmed Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for Backlash, scheduled for May 9 in Tampa. However, with the event still a week away, the company has room to turn the attack into a title match.