Gunther is now advertised for SmackDown on May 29, 2026, after attacking Cody Rhodes and moving from RAW to the blue brand, a shift that has fueled speculation WWE is lining up a major title change. The move puts Gunther on the same side of the roster as the company’s top championship picture and gives the latest twist in a feud that has already carried from WrestleMania 42 into the summer.
The timing matters because Gunther already arrives with serious momentum. He defeated Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42 and has retired Goldberg, John Cena and AJ Styles, a run that has left him looking like one of WWE’s most protected names. He is also part of the broader conversation around what comes next for Cody, whose rivalry with the Apex Predator was renewed at WrestleMania 42 and could continue without the title in play.
That is where the speculation around Clash in Italy comes in. WWE could crown Gunther as Undisputed Champion there, which would reshape the road to SummerSlam 2026 and potentially clear the way for a different kind of main event for Rhodes. The idea is that Cody may need to drop the title at Clash for a SummerSlam feud to work without the championship attached, keeping the focus on the personal issues rather than the belt.
There is also a separate branch to the story if Orton comes back before Clash in Italy. In that case, WWE could book him against Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026, extending the feud that reignited at WrestleMania 42 and giving the company a marquee match even if the title picture shifts elsewhere. That possibility is what makes Gunther’s move to SmackDown more than a simple roster note: it places him in position for a championship run while other key programs are still being mapped out.
For now, Gunther’s listing on SmackDown is the clearest sign yet that WWE is keeping its options open. The company can push him toward the Undisputed Championship at Clash in Italy, continue the Rhodes-Apex Predator rivalry without the title, or use both paths at once if Orton returns in time. What happens next will show whether Cody keeps the championship long enough to anchor SummerSlam or whether Gunther’s new brand switch is the start of a fast track to the top.
