Gunther tells Rhodes to sign contract or lose title shot

Gunther confronted Cody Rhodes on Friday Night SmackDown after Paul Heyman arranged a title match for Gunther at Clash in Italy. Gunther accused Rhodes of interfering with his contract negotiations and turning the situation into a personal issue. Rhodes responded by setting up the ring for the signing and insisting Gunther complete the paperwork there.

SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis told Gunther the opportunity was no longer guaranteed after the Austrian wrestler delayed the signing. Aldis scheduled an immediate match between Gunther and newcomer Royce Keys to settle the issue. Keys, who had been approached by Solo Sikoa earlier in the night, entered the main event looking to secure a championship opportunity.

Gunther defeated Keys after a distraction involving a chair allowed him to land a powerbomb and secure the pinfall. Rhodes then attacked Gunther from behind while the Austrian celebrated the victory. Carmelo Hayes also competed earlier in the show, defeating Ricky Saints in a United States Championship contender match.

With the win, Gunther retains his path to the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash in Italy, while Rhodes remains the defending champion. The outcome leaves open questions about how the contract signing will be finalized before the event.