Contract Chaos Looms as SmackDown Heads to Clash in Italy

SmackDown builds toward next weekend’s Clash in Italy with Gunther challenging Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes for the title, but the contract sign remains unresolved. Sami Zayn tries to smooth things over with Rhodes but is rebuffed, and Rhodes wins the main event only to be attacked by Gunther afterward, signaling a ruthless path ahead. The women's scene edges toward Ripley vs. Cargill at Clash, Flair & Bliss spark a tag-team feud, and several midcard storylines thread through the show, which earns a mixed grade of C.