WWE fans witnessed a contentious moment during the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Gunther at Clash in Italy. The bout took place at the Inalpi Arena in Torino di Sangro, Italy, on May 31, 2026.
Rhodes, known as the ‘American Nightmare,’ was defending his title against Gunther. In a high-paced conclusion, Rhodes executed a second Cross Rhodes on Gunther, leaving the challenger near the ropes. As Rhodes pinned Gunther, the referee, Dan Engler, began his count. Footage highlighted Gunther’s foot positioned underneath the ropes, a situation typically obliging the referee to stop the count.
Despite the rule, Engler missed the position of Gunther’s legs and completed the count, declaring Rhodes the winner.
Gunther, visibly upset, signaled to Engler about his foot’s positioning but to no avail. Rhodes celebrated his successful title defense, his second since defeating Drew McIntyre earlier in the month.
The title match was the result of Gunther’s victory over Royce Keys two weeks prior. Initially hesitant, Gunther ultimately signed the contract for the Clash in Italy, determined to challenge Rhodes. Gunther has been vocal about Rhodes making ‘Friday Night SmackDown’ revolve around himself, heightening the rivalry between the two.
With this controversial outcome, Gunther has valid grounds for discontent regarding his title opportunity. Whether Gunther will receive another shot at the championship remains uncertain.
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