Gunther calls Cody Rhodes 'the perfect symbol of the crumbling American dream' ahead of WWE Clash in Italy

WWE star Kit Wilson tells Fox News Digital why he's forgiven Cody Rhodes for taking his anger out on him.

Cody Rhodes and Gunther faced off to end "Friday Night SmackDown" as the former will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against the latter at Clash in Italy on Sunday.

Rhodes had plenty to be upset about. Gunther was forced into a title match thanks to a favor that Paul Heyman owed him. Gunther attacked Rhodes from behind multiple times in the week since. Gunther promised that the sneak attacks were over as he came out to address Rhodes.

Gunther had pointed words for Rhodes, again.

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

Gunther and Cody Rhodes face off during Friday Night Smackdown at Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain, on May 29, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)

"I’m pretty new to 'SmackDown' but figured out pretty quickly that this show has to be all about you," Gunther began. "And if it’s not about you, you find a way to make it about yourself. And it might not be your fault, Cody, because you’re just a product of the culture you grew up in where egotism and narcissism and nepotism gets rewarded. It gets you one ahead of everybody else. And it’s very fitting that your name is the ‘American Nightmare’ because right now, you’re the perfect symbol of the crumbling American dream.

"I know what you’re thinking, it may be low-hanging fruit. But I’m talking about the concept of the American dream. What they told me as a boy is if you want to max out your life, you got to leave home behind, you got to move to America and from discipline, hard work and sacrifice, you can achieve it all. I’ve done that. I’ve earned the position that I’m in. Whereas for you, everything was just one phone