Cody Rhodes WWE Night Of Champions 2026 Opponent

Published: Jun 2, 2026 by SP3 | Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026 by SP3

Born in Harlem, New York and now living in the Bronx, Sid Pullar III aka SP3 is a lifelong wrestling fan who has been covering the industry for over nine years as a podcaster and writer. His passion for the industry has been documented with over 3,000 videos on YouTube and 8,000 written pieces across multiple outlets, such as WrestleTalk, Sports Illustrated and more.

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Cody Rhodes WWE Night Of Champions 2026 Opponent

Going into WWE Night of Champions 2026, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will obviously be in a high profile showdown on this show.

After successfully defending his title against GUNTHER at WWE Clash In Italy 2026, it should be interesting who will step up to be the challenger against ‘The American Nightmare.’

From former rivals to ongoing feuds reaching their boiling point, there are plenty of options for Rhodes at the upcoming premium live event from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Here are six potential Cody Rhodes WWE Night of Champions 2026 opponents.

6. GUNTHER

At WWE Clash In Italy 2026, Cody Rhodes defeated GUNTHER to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

After the match, it was revealed that ‘The Ring General’ had his foot underneath the rope during the final pinfall, meaning the count should not have even started.

GUNTHER has been positioned as one of the strongest contenders to face Rhodes for a while after his wins over John Cena, Goldberg and AJ Styles to retire these legends.

With the finish to their Clash In Italy contest, it seems clear that GUNTHER will be in line for another opportunity at Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions 2026.

5. Royce Keys

Ahead of WWE Clash In Italy 2026, Royce Keys stepped up to the plate to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

After GUNTHER overplayed his cards, it was Keys who attempted to take his place and sign the contract for a title match against ‘The American Nightmare.’

Other than a subsequent loss to GUNTHER, the former Powerhouse Hobbs has been undefeated in singles competition and won the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, making him a legitimate contender for the gold.

Keys challenging his longtime friend Rhodes at WWE Night of Champions 2026 would be an interesting story to tell with both men having their history stemming from their time together in All Elite Wrestling.

4. Trick Williams

Since arriving on the WWE main roster in January 2026, Trick Williams has cemented himself as one of the most popular stars in the company.

At WrestleMania 42 night two, Williams defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship.

However, Trick does not seem satisfied with just that title and has made it clear that he sees himself as a future world champion.

Trick challenging Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship would make for an exciting new matchup in the main event spot at Night of Champions 2026.

3. Drew McIntyre

On the March 6 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.

‘The Scottish Warrior’ has yet to receive a title rematch for the gold since that loss earlier this year.

After losing to Jacob Fatu in an unsanctioned match at WrestleMania 42, McIntyre has not been seen on WWE programming in the weeks since the PLE.

McIntyre returning to challenge Rhodes would be fitting to continue their longstanding rivalry over the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions 2026.

2. Randy Orton

At WrestleMania 42 night one, Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

After the match, Orton laid out Rhodes by hitting him with the Undisputed WWE Title belt and a punt kick to the head.

Since Mania, Orton has not appeared on Friday Night SmackDown with no signs of his return at this time.

This could lead to Orton reemerging following WWE Clash In Italy 2026 to once again challenge Rhodes for the title again at the Night of Champions premium live event.

1. Sami Zayn

On the May 22 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Cody Rhodes defeated Sami Zayn in a non-title match.

Post match, GUNTHER attacked and laid out Rhodes with a sleeper, while Zayn watched on as his friend was choked out.

This led to a backstage confrontation where it became clear that the issues between Rhodes and Zayn would come to a head sooner rather than later.

With his relationship with the fans in Saudi Arabia, Zayn feels like the perfect challenger for Rhodes with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line for this year’s Night of Champions PLE.