The European final boss awaits in Italy

The road out of WrestleMania 41 has felt somewhat like a victory lap, but the honeymoon phase is officially over. When WWE touches down for Clash in Italy, the environment will be entirely different from the friendly confines of Allegiant Stadium. We are looking at a massive European stadium show, a hostile crowd, and the most physically imposing challenger of Cody Rhodes' reign. Gunther is not just a contender; he is a stylistic nightmare for the champion.

Over the last two years, WWE has carefully constructed Gunther as an anomaly in the modern wrestling world—a throwback who wrestles with terrifying, mechanical efficiency. There is no wasted motion. Every chop, every hold, every glare serves a distinct purpose. He has cleared out the upper midcard and main event scenes with a brutality that feels entirely unscripted.

Now, he gets his shot at the WWE Championship. And for the first time since he walked out of Las Vegas with the gold, Cody Rhodes feels like a legitimate underdog.

Going into Europe changes the atmospheric pressure. Gunther is Austrian, but to a European stadium crowd, he represents their brand of wrestling. He is their final boss.

Cody, conversely, is the ultimate American babyface. The tailored suits, the flag-waving rhetoric, the polished presentation—it all sets him up as the perfect foreign invader for this hostile crowd.

The Rocky IV blueprint

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray recently pointed out that the "Rocky" movies could inspire the story for Cody Rhodes and Gunther at this event. It is an incredibly sharp observation that perfectly captures the underlying psychology of this main event.

Look specifically at the structure of Rocky IV. You have the beloved, heart-on-his-sleeve American hero traveling into unfamiliar, hostile territory. He is facing a physically superior, emotionless machine who breaks opponents not just physically, but spiritually.

Gunther plays the Ivan Drago role to absolute perfection. He does not care about Cody's family legacy, the Rhodes name, or the fan reactions. He is utterly indifferent to the pageantry.

Gunther only cares about the mat. He dictates the pace of the match by punishing any sign of flair. If Cody tries to rely on crowd energy, Gunther will simply cut off his oxygen supply with a sleeper hold.

Cody is going to have to play the resilient brawler, taking an inhuman amount of punishment just to find a narrow opening. The narrative writes itself: heart and determination against sheer, cold violence.

Where Cody's reign has stumbled

Let's be honest about the last few weeks of television, because it hasn't all been perfect. Since retaining the title at WrestleMania 41, Cody's run has felt disjointed. WWE relies too heavily on formulaic segments where he walks to the ring, asks the crowd what they want to talk about, and delivers a generalized promo about fighting spirit.

It works for keeping the live arena engaged, but it severely lacks narrative urgency. We haven't felt genuine jeopardy for the WWE Championship in over a month. The weekly television has felt like a holding pattern, waiting for a challenger who actually poses a physical threat to the champion.

That is exactly why Gunther is the perfect opponent at this exact moment. He provides instant, undeniable stakes. You don't need a convoluted backstage mystery or a twenty-minute opening monologue to sell this match. You just have a very large, very violent man who wants the belt, and a champion who has to prove he can survive him.

Tactical breakdown: Speed versus Brutality

From an in-ring perspective, this match is a fascinating clash of pacing and ring generalship. Cody thrives in matches with distinct acts. He likes to build to a crescendo, stringing together his signature offense—the drop-down uppercut, the disaster kick, the snap powerslam—into a rapid-fire sequence that pops the crowd and shifts the momentum.

Gunther does not allow sequences.

If you study Gunther's recent title defenses, you see a masterclass in momentum denial. He interrupts offensive flurries with a single, devastating strike. He uses the sleeper hold not just as an out-of-nowhere finisher, but as a deliberate transition move to drain his opponent's stamina.

If Cody tries to run his usual comeback spots, Gunther will simply step out of the way or intercept him with a lariat that takes his head off.

Cody's path to victory requires targeting Gunther's base. We saw flashes of this vulnerability during Gunther's rare struggles over the past eighteen months. If Cody can chop down the legs, lock in the Figure Four, and neutralize the power generation required for Gunther's powerbombs and lariats, he has a fighting chance. He has to take away the big guns early.

But if this turns into a striking battle in the center of the ring, Cody is getting put to sleep. He cannot trade chops with Gunther. He cannot rely on a brawling style. He has to use his speed, exploit the ring apron, and force Gunther to chase him.

The psychological warfare of the ring apron

One of the most overlooked aspects of Cody's game is his spatial awareness. He uses the ropes and the apron better than almost anyone on the roster. The Cody Cutter relies entirely on misdirection and springboard timing.

Gunther, however, prefers to keep the action strictly between the ropes. He uses his mass to corner opponents, cutting off angles and forcing them into corners where he can unleash his terrifying chops.

The turning point of this match will likely happen on the outside. Gunther has a habit of punishing opponents who try to take a breather. If Cody rolls out to regroup, expect Gunther to follow immediately, utilizing the barricade and the ring steps to inflict blunt force trauma.

Cody must use these moments to turn Gunther's aggression against him—perhaps baiting him into a missed charge into the steel steps to damage that powerful right arm.

The psychology of the near-fall will also be decisive. Gunther rarely kicks out at the last possible millisecond; he powers out authoritatively at two, sending a message that he isn't close to being beaten. Cody will need to hit multiple Cross Rhodes just to keep Gunther down, and even then, the execution must be flawless.

What a title change means for the summer

If Gunther does capture the championship, it fundamentally alters the trajectory of Monday Night Raw. Cody has been a fighting champion, taking on all comers and operating as the undisputed locker room leader. Gunther operates as a tyrant. A reign under the Ring General means a slower, more methodical main event scene where contenders have to practically survive a gauntlet just to earn a title shot.

It also opens up fascinating new matchups. A heel Gunther at the top of the card provides a fresh target for rising babyfaces who have been treading water. It forces the roster to adapt to a different style of main event match—one built on endurance rather than high spots.

For Cody, a loss in Italy isn't the end of the world. In fact, chasing the title has always been where the American Nightmare is most compelling. The struggle is his defining characteristic. Taking the belt off him now, in a grueling war against an unstoppable monster, protects his aura while resetting his character arc. He can spend the rest of 2026 clawing his way back to the mountaintop, while Gunther terrorizes the roster as the supreme champion.

The final verdict

This match is going to be incredibly brutal. Expect Cody's chest to be bleeding within the first ten minutes. Expect a methodical, punishing pace that tests the champion's resolve like never before. The Italian crowd will bite on every single near-fall, creating an atmosphere that should elevate this into an immediate match of the year contender.

Cody is a phenomenal champion, but Gunther's momentum feels entirely inevitable right now. The European setting, the dominant aura, the stylistic mismatch—it all points in one clear direction. WWE has built Gunther for a moment exactly like this, and pulling the trigger in front of a massive international crowd is the right call.

We are looking at a title change. Gunther hits a devastating powerbomb around the 28-minute mark to capture the WWE Championship, ending Cody's reign and reshaping the entire main event scene heading into the summer.