Sami Zayn turns his back on Cody Rhodes during Gunther's post-match attack

Sami Zayn vs. Cody Rhodes could beryllium a main lawsuit to beryllium featured connected immoderate large amusement that the WWE runs, but connected Friday nighttime fans successful Lexington, Kentucky, were treated to the lucifer connected "SmackDown."

The booking stemmed from Zayn’s continued complaints astir not getting capable airtime and feeling similar he’s been pushed to the backmost of the line. Zayn complained to SmackDown wide manager Nick Aldis, but besides caught the attraction of Rhodes erstwhile helium called the "American Nightmare," "golden boy." Rhodes didn’t instrumentality excessively kindly to that and the lucifer was made.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Sami Zayn makes his entranceway during SmackDown astatine Rupp Arena successful Lexington, Ky., connected May 22, 2026. (Michael Marques/WWE)

Rhodes entered the lucifer with the imaginable of Gunther – his Clash successful Italy challenger – coming down for a sneak onslaught astatine immoderate time. The wrestlers’ rivalry heated up implicit the past fewer weeks since Paul Heyman fulfilled his favour for Gunther – getting him a changeable astatine the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Zayn wanted a combat – and a combat helium got.

The 2 traded blows successful the opening of the lucifer with each of them trying to get 1 implicit connected the other. Rhodes was trying to extremity the lucifer early. He went to the enactment for either a Cody Cutter oregon a Disaster Kick, but Zayn caught him and knocked him down to the floor. He went connected the onslaught from there, taking retired Rhodes’ near knee.

Zayn would proceed to enactment connected the genu arsenic the lucifer wore on. But Rhodes would combat done the symptom and deed a Cody Cutter seemingly retired of nowhere. Zayn wouldn’t enactment down for long. After a 2 count, Zayn flipped Rhodes onto the apron. Rhodes staggered and Zayn bounced disconnected the enactment and pushed Rhodes onto the denote table.

Rhodes bushed the 10 count, rushing backmost to the ringing astatine nine. Zayn tried for a Helluva Kick and missed. Rhodes countered with a Cody Cutter and got a 2 count. Zayn tried a Blue Thunder Bomb and couldn’t enactment Rhodes away.

Gunther attacks Cody Rhodes during SmackDown astatine Rupp Arena successful Lexington, Ky., connected May 22, 2026. (Cooper Neill/WWE)

Rhodes was astir to enactment up Zayn for a Cross Rhodes erstwhile Gunther came retired and enactment him successful a sleeperhold, but the referee didn’t spot it. Zayn bounced disconnected the enactment and deed Gunther down to the level arsenic Rhodes moved retired of the way. Rhodes past deed a distracted Zayn with a Cross Rhodes.

Gunther got backmost into the ringing and started his assault. Zayn got into the ringing and stared down Gunther. It appeared the 2 were going to travel to blows, but Gunther ignored him and choked retired Rhodes.

Zayn shook his caput and fto Gunther proceed his attack. Zayn turned his backmost to Rhodes and walked away.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Rhea Ripley acceptable for WrestleMania rematch

WWE Women's Champion Rhea Ripley makes her entranceway during SmackDown astatine Rupp Arena successful Lexington, Ky., connected May 22, 2026. (Cooper Neill/WWE)

Jade Cargill has vowed to get backmost the WWE Women’s Championship backmost astir her waist aft losing to Rhea Ripley astatine WrestleMania 42. The changeless attacks appeared to person unit Ripley’s hand.

She started Friday addressing Cargill, Michin and B-Fab.

"Jade and her crew, they decided to effort to nonstop a message. But each they managed to bash was truly p--- maine off. So, present that I’m back, I’m itching for a fight," Ripley said. "So Jade, if you privation your rematch, past I volition happily bushed you again.

"You vs. maine astatine Clash successful Italy for the WWE Women’s Championship."

Cargill seemingly accepted arsenic she, Michin and B-Fab came retired to onslaught Ripley and Charlotte Flair aft their tag squad lucifer against Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid aboriginal successful the night. The 3 took attraction of Ripley, Flair and Alexa Bliss, sending different connection earlier their six-woman tag squad lucifer astatine Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Flair and Bliss came retired during Ripley’s promo and reminded her astir the lucifer and that they each needed to enactment focused.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

SmackDown lucifer results:

• Talla Tonga def. Shinsuke Nakamura.
• Tiffany Stratton def. Lash Legend to clasp the Women’s United States Championship.
• Trick Williams def. Carmelo Hayes.
• Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley def. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid.
• Solo Sikoa def. Damian Priest.
• Cody Rhodes def. Sami Zayn.