Add as a preferred source on Google Roman Reigns left WWE Clash in Italy with the World Heavyweight Championship and, apparently, another major name in his sights. After defeating Jacob Fatu in a Tribal Combat Match, the OTC sent a direct message to Cody Rhodes as the show was going off the air.
As he made his way to the back, Reigns looked into the camera and said everyone now knows who the “Head of the Table” and the “captain of the ship” is. He then brought up the nickname Rhodes has been using in recent months.
“QB1? F*ck that noise. It’s the Tribal Chief.”
The line was a direct reference to Rhodes, who has been calling himself WWE’s “QB1,” a nod to the starting quarterback of a team. Earlier in the same show, Cody retained the Undisputed WWE Championship by defeating Gunther, though the finish was controversial, as the Austrian appeared to have his foot under the rope during part of the count.
During the Clash in Italy post-show, Rhodes was told about Reigns’ comment and addressed it directly.
Well well well, look what we have here… @CodyRhodes | @WWERomanReigns | #WWEClash pic.twitter.com/CyWgN089Er
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2026
“It’s a unique position for me to be in, for me to say something negative about him, or for him to say something negative about me, for the simple fact that he doesn’t have two wins over me, and I don’t have two wins over him. He beat me once, and I beat his ass once.”
Rhodes also put Reigns on the same path as other potential challengers for his title, while not ruling out an immediate rematch with Gunther.
“Add him to the list. Gunther can get a rematch. Easy to find, hard to beat. That goes for Roman Reigns as well.”
The exchange raises expectations for another chapter between Reigns and Rhodes, especially after both men left Clash in Italy as world champions. In Reigns’ case, his win over Fatu came after two Spears, including one through a table, before the deciding pinfall.
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It is still unclear whether WWE plans to turn this back-and-forth into an immediate rivalry. However, with Gunther still having a case for a rematch against Rhodes, and Reigns maintaining his grip on the top of the brand, the paths of both champions have become one of the biggest stories heading into the next few shows.