Zayn walks away as Gunther chokes out Rhodes on SmackDown

Zayn walks away as Gunther chokes out Rhodes on SmackDown

Sami Zayn declined to intervene as Gunther attacked Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes following their singles match on SmackDown at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 22, 2026. After Rhodes pinned Zayn with a Cross Rhodes, Gunther entered the ring and applied a chokehold. Zayn, who had briefly confronted Gunther, shook his head and walked away, leaving Rhodes without assistance.

The match itself had been built around Zayn’s public grievances over limited opportunities, including a direct challenge to Rhodes after labelling him a “golden boy” – a slight Rhodes refused to absorb. SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis sanctioned the bout. Gunther had already been positioned as Rhodes’s next major opponent, with Paul Heyman having secured the Austrian champion a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash in Italy. His ringside interference – applying a sleeperhold while the referee’s view was obstructed – directly preceded the finish, as Zayn inadvertently knocked him to the floor and walked into a Cross Rhodes.

Elsewhere on the same broadcast, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley formally challenged Jade Cargill to a title match at Clash in Italy. Cargill appeared to accept before she, Michin and B-Fab attacked Ripley, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss following a tag team match, reinforcing the feud ahead of a six-woman tag team bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Zayn’s deliberate inaction leaves his alignment uncertain heading into the Clash in Italy cycle, while Rhodes must now prepare for Gunther with the champion’s vulnerability – both physical, after Zayn targeted his left knee extensively, and strategic – now publicly established.