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Why WWE's Matt Cardona is 'hoping' Cody Rhodes retains the title at Night of Champions 2026
By Ryan Gaydos
Published June 27, 2026
Sami Zayn is going into Night of Champions with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Zayn has complained for weeks about Cody Rhodes being the "golden boy" and Gunther getting an Undisputed WWE Championship shot before him. He’s interfered in a special guest referee match and has been a general thorn in the side of Rhodes and Gunther. So much so, Rhodes booked the triple-threat match for the title at the premium live event in Saudi Arabia.
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Cody Rhodes speaks during SmackDown at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 8, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Matt Cardona analyzed Zayn’s chances of winning in an interview with Fox News Digital, but he hoped Rhodes would retain.
"Night of Champions, this Saturday, Sami Zayn, he has nothing to lose," Cardona said. "How many times has he been put in a similar situation and lost? If he loses again, no big deal, but that’s what makes him dangerous. He will do anything to win this match.
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Matt Cardona looks on during SmackDown at KFC YUM! Center in Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 27, 2026. (Mike Marques/WWE)
"So, whether it’s Sami, Gunther, personally, I’m hoping it’s Cody because I want to be the WWE champion and if I beat anybody, I want to have beaten Cody Rhodes. People don’t know this, Cody’s last match before WWE before he left was against me and I beat him."
The Rhodes vs. Zayn vs. Gunther match is one of three championship matches on the Night of Champions card.
Elsewhere, Trick Williams will defend the United States Championship against Ricky Saints and Tiffany Stratton puts the Women’s United States Championship on the line against Jade Cargill.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes looks on during SmackDown at Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy, on June 5, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
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Night of Champions begins at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/wwes-matt-cardona-hoping-cody-rhodes-retains-title-night-champions-2026