Cody Rhodes now has a confirmed date and location for his next Undisputed WWE Championship defense, as Paul Heyman revealed on SmackDown that the favor he owed Gunther has resulted in a major title match at WWE Clash in Italy on May 31.

Cody Rhodes vs Gunther Clash In Italy

The announcement came just one week after Gunther blindsided Rhodes on 5/8 SmackDown, escalating the tension between two of WWE’s most dominant forces. Rhodes initially pushed to fight immediately, but Heyman made it clear the contract already dictated the match’s destination — Turin, Italy.

The rivalry traces back to the road to WrestleMania 42, when Gunther attacked Seth Rollins during Rollins’ issues with Heyman. After WrestleMania, Heyman thanked Gunther for the assist, but Gunther demanded more than gratitude — he wanted a favor. That favor was cashed in on SmackDown.

Heyman explained that he used his influence to secure Gunther an Undisputed WWE Championship match at Clash in Italy, taking place May 31 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. Rhodes tried to accelerate the confrontation by telling Gunther they could wrestle that same night, but Heyman shut it down, pointing to the contract and confirming the official date.

Following the announcement, Gunther attempted another sneak attack and briefly locked in a sleeper hold. Rhodes escaped and fired back with a message of his own, calling himself “easy to find, but hard to beat.”

The match carries added intrigue because Rhodes previously defeated Gunther at the 2024 Crown Jewel Championship match. This time, however, the stakes are significantly higher with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line.

WWE is already positioning Clash in Italy as one of its marquee international events of the year. With Rhodes and Gunther now officially set, the road to Turin is shaping up to be one of WWE’s toughest battlegrounds heading into summer.

Cody Rhodes vs Gunther Clash In Italy

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