Cody Rhodes Takes Shot at Sami Zayn’s Kevin Owens Friendship During SmackDown Face-Off Ahead of Night of Champions Triple Threat

The road to Night of Champions 2026 got a little more personal on Friday night when all three competitors in the Undisputed WWE Championship main event came face-to-face on SmackDown.

Cody Rhodes, who will defend his title against Sami Zayn and Gunther at the upcoming premium live event, was the first man to make his way to the ring for the segment. When it came time to address Zayn directly, Rhodes reached for a dig that carried some genuine sting — zeroing in on Zayn’s well-documented friendship with Kevin Owens.

“I can’t wrap my head around the fact that you are best friends with Kevin Owens,” Rhodes told Zayn. “At least he has been WWE Champion.”

It’s a pointed line. By invoking Owens — himself a former WWE Champion — Rhodes wasn’t just questioning Zayn’s taste in companions; he was calling into question whether Zayn belongs in the same conversation as the people around him. The implication is clear: your best friend has done something you haven’t.

For Zayn, who has spent years carving out his place near the top of the card and earning one of the more genuine fan connections in recent WWE history, the challenge is as much about legacy as it is about the championship itself. He has never held the top title in WWE, and that fact is now front and center heading into Night of Champions.

Gunther, the third man in the match, was also present for the SmackDown confrontation. With all three men now in the same ring and the stakes clearly laid out, the triple threat is shaping up to be one of the most compelling title matches of the year.