The pro wrestling business is full of happy couples. Now that family has grown by one, because GUNTHER and Jinny have announced the birth of their son.
GUNTHER and Jinny were married in May 2023, and they have now proudly announced a big moment in their lives. The two are now parents to a brand-new baby boy.
GUNTHER shared a photo featuring himself and Jinny, both beaming with joy while posing with their newborn. Jinny is a former WWE NXT UK star, and of course, GUNTHER is the current WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Accompanying the picture was a simple yet heartfelt caption to announce their son’s birth. GUNTHER did not reveal their son’s name, but it appears that both mother and baby are happy and health.
“This morning our son entered the world. What a blessing.”
GUNTHER is still running strong with his historic Intercontinental Title reign. He beat the Honky Tonk Man’s record a log time ago, and he shows no signs of stopping. Now, he has an even bigger reason to keep going.
We’d like to wish GUNTHER and Jinny the very best for their new son. Hopefully, he can enjoy this time with his family, but WWE will need him back on the road very soon.
Posted December 27th, 2023 in News, WWE. Tagged: Gunther.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther yet again expressed his desire to face Brock Lesnar, that too at WrestleMania 40.
‘The Ring General’ has been on an unstoppable run as WWE Intercontinental Champion and has defeated every opponent who has challenged him. One of the credible challengers who could put his title reign at jeopardy is none other than Brock Lesnar.
Both the superstars have expressed their desire to face each other but they are yet to lock horns inside the squared circle. Meanwhile, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ has been away from WWE programming.
Gunther mentions Brock Lesnar
While on SiriusXM Busted Open, Gunther said that he feels he needs to prove his status as the ‘end boss’ and that could be possible if he manages to defeat Lesnar. He said:
“I don’t know if WrestleMania 40 is the time for that but we’ll see but I feel like in the long run the one name I always bring up is Brock because I feel like I’m the end boss to a lot of people. But I feel like Brock is somebody perfected being an end boss and I got to prove myself with him in the ring too.”
Here's @Gunther_AUT casually mentioning who he wants to face at WrestleMania 40.?
Could we see Gunther vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 40?
WWE is set to host Royal Rumble next month and that could be the perfect way to sow the seeds for the Lesnar-Gunther feud and it could lead to a clash at WrestleMania 40.
WWE also dropped a subtle hint about Lesnar’s appearance at WrestleMania 40. The promotional materials for WrestleMania 40 feature the former WWE Universal Champion and there is certainly a possibility that the two titans could share the ring at the Tropicana Field event.
There have been reports floating that the company is considering the high-profile match between the two on ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All.’
We will now have to wait and see what WWE has in store for the fans.
This week’s SmackDown was an episode to send the Ruthless Aggression era fans a trip down memory lane, as it featured names such as Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton and CM Punk.
WWE also confirmed the brackets for the announced US Championship #1 contender tournament during the night as the competition kicked off.
The show opened with a first-round match that saw Santos Escobar defeating Dragon Lee. The second tournament match of the night then featured Bobby Lashley who beat Karrion Kross.
CM Punk’s announced appearance on the show gave fans a lot to talk about. The Straight Edge Star cut a promo, making references to Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes and the Brawl Out incident that eventually led to his AEW departure.
What Happened After SmackDown
In the main event of the show, Randy Orton teamed up with LA Knight against the common adversary in The Bloodline. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa represented The Bloodline in the match but they couldn’t get the win.
Orton picked up the victory by delivering an RKO to Jimmy Uso. The broadcast ended with Randy Orton holding up the hand of LA Knight as the pair stood tall.
This wasn’t the end of action however, as fans got to see a rematch between Gunther and Chad Gable after SmackDown went off air. The two arch-rivals put on another great match reminding people of their previous encounters. The bout, however, ended in a disqualification with Gable picking up the victory.
The second dark match of the night saw Cody Rhodes once again taking on Dominik Mysterio. Cody cut a promo after winning the match and he then gave away another table to end the show.
The WWE Intercontinental Championship, while being a midcard belt, holds significant importance in the company. It has been a staple of the professional wrestling industry for decades now. Even today, it is still a valuable milestone to reach in a wrestler’s career.
The Intercontinental Championship is currently held by Gunther in WWE, and he is set to defend his title at WrestleMania 39 against the winner of a #1 contender’s match between Drew McIntyre and Sheamus.
According to a new report by Fightful Select, Gunther’s plans for WrestleMania 39 were set as early as December 2022.
The original rumors had suggested that Gunther would defend his title against former WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. However, these plans did not come to fruition. Lesnar is instead now scheduled to face Omos at WrestleMania 39.
Instead, Gunther will defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship against the winner of the #1 contender’s match. This could be either McIntyre or Sheamus, and either competitor would make for an entertaining bout at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
The match came about when Sheamus and McIntyre both won in the Fatal 5-Way match to determine the number one contender.
Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship Reign
The leader of Impreium also recently reached a milestone as the Intercontinental champ.
Gunther won the title on June 10, 2022 edition of WWE SmackDown. He ended Ricochet’s 98-day reign that night. Gunther successfully defended his title against the likes of Braun Strowman, Rey Mysterio, and Shinsuke Nakamura since then.
At the time of this writing, Gunther has held the title for over 276 days. He broke the record of Shelton Benjamin’s reign of 244 days back from 2004.
This feat made Gunther the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of the 21st century, which was even acknowledged by WWE. It remains to be seen if the champ can continue to hold on to the title and extend his record.
Are matches involving celebrities a good or bad thing for the world of professional wrestling?
While other promotions do use the occasional outside name, nobody does it quite like WWE, as the promotion often uses celebrities around WrestleMania season.
In recent years, Bad Bunny, Johnny Knoxville, and Logan Paul (who has since signed with WWE) have all competed at the Showcase of the Immortals.
Pros and Cons
To many, celebrities stepping into the ring is an inherently bad thing, as it takes away from a full-time member of the roster.
Speaking on Superstar Crossover, GUNTHER noted that he understands the frustration from stars who don’t get to wrestle on the card.
“Somebody that wrestles all year round, and then comes WrestleMania, and it’s somebody who is always working and it’s their drive of ‘I want to be in the big spectacle,’ and some spots won’t be available because we have celebrities come in.”
GUNTHER.
The reigning Intercontinental Champion added though that these celebrities do make the effort, and that they bring a lot of good attention to WWE.
“It helps our business in general to generate way more attention. The only thing I think is important is, whoever comes in from the outside and takes part in what we do, they have to have a passion for it and has to take it as serious to be part of our product.“
GUNTHER.
The Imperium leader name-dropped Logan Paul and Bad Bunny as two key examples of the benefit of celebrities stepping in the ring.
GUNTHER went so far as to claim that Paul (who has competed four times for WWE,) is taking risks he would be hesitant to take himself.
GUNTHER at WrestleMania
The reigning Intercontinental Champion does not have to worry about losing his spot at WrestleMania 39, which will be his first WrestleMania.
On tonight’s SmackDown, a five-way match will determine the Austrian’s challenger for WrestleMania.
The match will consist of Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Karrion Kross, LA Knight, and Xavier Woods, who is replacing the injured Kofi Kingston.
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has spoken about the perception from some fans that his character and the Imperium stable are rooted in Naziism.
When WWE changed WALTER’s name to GUNTHER, the original change was meant to be ‘Gunther Stark,’ also the name of a Nazi U-Boat commander in World War 2.
Last week, GUNTHER received a rating of 88 in WWE 2K23, which raised eyebrows from fans, given that the number is used as code by modern-day Nazis.
In a simple letter-number code, 88 is HH, which Nazis and white supremacists uses as a dog whistle for “Heil Hitler.”
Living With It
As an Austrian (the same nation as Hitler) who spent much of his career competing in Germany, GUNTHER is well aware of the significance of the two nations in WW2.
Speaking on The Ringer’s Cheap Heat podcast, the reigning Intercontinental Champion was asked about the negative stigma as an Austrian who was based out of Germany competing in the U.S.
“That’s the history of the two countries,” GUNTHER replied “That’s something we can never change. We have to live with it. But obviously, that’s something that got thrown at us before and still gets thrown at us. We don’t really acknowledge it because it’s so far away from what the truth is.”
GUNTHER.
GUNTHER added that often, anyone who considers himself to be in any association with fascism cannot acknowledge the differences Austria and Germany have made since 1945.
“Austria and Germany have made huge efforts to be hard on themselves when it comes to their history and keep themselves in check.”
GUTNHER.
The Austrian went on to say that he and Ludwig Kaiser (who is German) have prided themselves on how their nations treat the seriousness of their past atrocities.
Taking Things Seriously
Imperium’s appeal to WWE fans has come with how serious the characters of GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci are portrayed on TV and at live events.
On the podcast, GUNTHER explained that taking wrestling as seriously as they do is not just part of the act fans see each week.
“We mean it! We build our livelihood around it. Why should we not take it seriously? There’s no playing a character or anything like that. That’s just what we are.”
GUNTHER.
GUNTHER will defend his Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 39 against an opponent yet to be decided.
GUNTHER has dominated as the WWE Intercontinental Champion for over 250 days, but the Austrian’s future could be in the title picture of a bigger prize?
Called up to the main roster in early 2022, GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June, dethroning Ricochet.
Recently, the leader of Imperium broke the record for the longest reign as Intercontinental Champion of the 21st Century.
World Title Aspirations
GUNTHER has shown no sign of ending his title reign prematurely, but bigger things may be in his future.
Speaking to Louis Dangoor of GiveMeSport, the Wrestle Votes account shared that GUNTHER’s work is loved by all the right people backstage.
“Triple H loves him. They all love him ever since he came into his own at Clash at the Castle. I’m not just talking about Triple H, Road Dogg is big on him, Jason Jordan really likes him.”
Wrestle Votes.
Wrestle Votes added that fans shouldn’t be surprised to see GUNTHER with some World Championship gold over the next 12 months.
“Once WWE gets two World titles, you double the amount of people in the main event. Gunther is ready to step up. I expect by the summer to see him at the top of the card. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins a World title. He might be next in line.”
Wrestle Votes.
WWE has been considering a new World Championship or splitting the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship for some time.
Not long after Roman Reigns unified the two titles at WrestleMania 38, it was reported that the USA Network was unhappy with how the World Champion rarely appeared on Raw.
GUNTHER’s Immediate Future
While GUNTHER could end 2023 as a World Champion, the Austrian powerhouse has more immediate concerns.
20 Superstars, including eight former WWE World Champions, will look to earn a shot at GUNTHER’s Intercontinental Championship next month.
Debuting on WWE’s main roster in early 2022, GUNTHER was a stand-out star of last year, and captured the Intercontinental Championship in June.
Recently, the Austrian broke the record for the longest tenure in a traditional Royal Rumble match, reaching over 70 minutes and shattering the record set by Rey Mysterio in 2006.
WWE has announced a special attraction match for the company’s upcoming return to Madison Square Garden:
? BREAKING ? 20 Man Battle Royal with the Winner to face GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship at @WWE Road to #WrestleMania at MSG on Mar 12!
Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods,) Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Finn Balor, The Miz, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Johnny Gargano, Omos, Dexter Lumis, Bronson Reed, Rick Boogs, Santos Escobar, Braun Strowman, Ricochet, Baron Corbin and Karrion Kross.
Out of the combatants, eight (McIntyre, Sheamus, Kingston, Mysterio, Lashley, Balor, Miz, and Strowman) have held World Championship gold on the main roster.
Eight of the Superstars (McIntyre, Kingston, Mysterio, Lashley, Balor, Miz, Strowman, and Ricochet) are former WWE Intercontinental Champions.
Posted February 23rd, 2023 in WWE, News. Tagged: Gunther.
The Austrian’s next hurdle is to make it to 265 days (Thursday, March 2.) If he does, GUNTHER will surpass The Rock to become the longest-reigning champion in 32 years.
What’s Next?
It seems nothing can stop GUNTHER’s momentum at this time, but two former WWE World Champions are hoping to do exactly that.
It has been reported that the plan for WrestleMania 39 calls for GUNTHER to defend against Sheamus and Drew McIntyre in a war of three of Europe’s finest stars.
Both men have previously spoken about being the one to dethrone GUNTHER, and McIntyre is a former WWE Intercontinental Champion in his own right.
For Sheamus, capturing the gold would see him fulfill his journey to becoming a WWE Grand Slam winner, which began with his WWE Title win over John Cena in December 2009.
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER is ready to step back in the ring with Brock Lesnar, calling the Beast Incarnate his final boss.
The Austrian powerhouse has been on a role since joining WWE in 2017, and was the longest reigning NXT UK Champion.
After his main roster call-up last year, GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June, which he holds to this day.
The Beast Vs. Der Ring General
During the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match, GUNTHER and Brock Lesnar would have a brief face-off that thrilled the Houston audience.
Speaking on the Rob Brown show, GUNTHER speculated on a one-on-one match with WWE’s Beast.
“Brock is a one-in-a-million guy, one in ten million. I always liked those guys that have stood out from the pack. I stopped watching wrestling for a while when I was a teenager and then I got back into it again when I started training.
“There was a time when Brock was young and he was wrestling Eddie (Guerrero) and Big Show and Kurt Angle, and the guy was fantastic. I always loved his matches and was very impressed with that and also with the recent years in WWE.”
“That’s my end boss.”
GUNTHER on Brock Lesnar.
“I always thought it would a thing for wrestling and my style, that’s my end boss. I’ve been portrayed as the end boss in wrestling for a lot of guys, but I think Brock could be my end boss. I really hope the match goes down at some point.”
Future Plans
The Imperium leader is hopeful for another match with Lesnar, but his more immediate future will feature two other former champions.
Despite reports last December of GUNTHER Vs. Lesnar for WrestleMania 39, a more recent report has said it will be GUNTER, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus this April.
Both men have spoken about dethroning GUNTHER, and an Intercontinental Championship win for Sheamus will earn him the Grand Slam.
Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER’s reign may be in serious jeopardy if WWE goes ahead with plans for a blockbuster triple-threat match at WrestleMania 39.
The Austrian powerhouse captured the title on WWE SmackDown in June of last year and is the longest-reigning champion since 2005.
If GUNTHER holds on to the gold for another week, he will surpass Shelton Benjamin’s reign and become the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of this millennium.
WrestleMania 39
GUNTHER’s performance since coming to the main roster has been heralded by fans, as seen with the response to his record-shattering performance at last weekend’s Royal Rumble.
While it was previously reported that WWE was planning on GUNTHER Vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 39, that no longer appears to be the case.
Wrestle Votes reports that WWE is considering an epic triple-threat in which the leader of Imperium will defend his title against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus.
I’m told while not decided 100%, there are plans to feature an Intercontinental Championship 3 way match at WrestleMania: Gunther v Sheamus v Drew McIntyre. There are a number of supporters within creative that not only want the match, but they want it towards the top. TBD.
McIntyre is a former IC Champion, winning the title in December 2009 and holding the gold until May 2010.
Though he was suspended (in storyline) and stripped of the title by then SmackDown GM Teddy Long, an edict by Mr. McMahon undid Long’s actions, and WWE counts McIntyre’s run as one, uninterrupted reign.
Sheamus is yet to hold the Intercontinental Championship, which is the only title he needs to complete the Grand Slam.
Both McIntyre and Sheamus have spoken previously about wanting to be the one to dethrone the Austrian, and Sheamus’ pursuit of the title led to the much-acclaimed match at WWE Clash at the Castle last September.
“Sometimes when people look at the Royal Rumble, they just look at the winner. I tend to look at who has the moments that are most spectacular. That’s what our business really a lot of the time is. It’s about those big moments. That moment that catapult’s you to another moment that raises you up to another even bigger moment.”
“There were a lot of people who had moments tonight. Logan Paul and Ricochet. It’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. Cody with the win. But GUNTHER, going in there at number one, with Sheamus which is tough enough because you know you’re going to take a beating.”
“To have the performance that he did, all through that hour [was incredible.] There was never a moment in that Rumble match I feel where you lost GUNTHER. Where he just blended into the background. He stood out the whole thing. He’s a star. He is an incredible talent.”
“He stood out the whole thing. He’s a star. He is an incredible talent.”
Triple H.
“It’s funny how many talents come to me when they walk through that curtain after they work with him, whether it’s briefly or whether it’s a long match, and walk through that curtain and say ‘oh my God. He’s incredible.’ He’s a special talent and he had a big night tonight and I’m excited to see where he can take that. If each moment leads to another, I’m excited to see where he takes it next.”
The Intercontinental Champion, Gunther, has set a new record in the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
Gunther entered as number one, going up against Sheamus at the start of the Royal Rumble match. He outlasted 28 other opponents in the Royal Rumble before getting eliminated by a returning Cody Rhodes. While he didn’t win, he had a great showing and broke a new record.
The intercontinental champ has set the record for the most time spent in a Royal Rumble match. He lasted one hour, eleven minutes, and 25 seconds. The previous record holder was Rey Mysterio from the 2006 Royal Rumble match, with one hour, two minutes, and 12 seconds.
Although Gunther lost the Royal Rumble match, he had exciting encounters with several wrestlers. He had a standoff with Brock Lesnar, an opponent he has not faced. However, it seems WWE may have teased another match between Lesnar and Bobby Lashley.
In the match, Gunther eliminated both Sheamus and Drew McIntyre at the same time. Sheamus and Gunther have unfinished business, but McIntyre has yet to go against Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship. McIntyre seems to be taking a step back from the universal title picture, so WWE could have him work with Gunther.
Regardless, WWE seems to be investing in Gunther to make him a threat to the company. While he didn’t win, it’s possible the company could have big plans for the Intercontinental Champion this year.
GUNTHER has continued to be pushed as a top star on the main roster that he had been in WWE NXT UK and NXT.
GUNTHER is the reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion, having held the title for over 200 days. His most recent title defense came when he defeated Braun Strowman on the January 13 episode of WWE SmackDown.
“Yeah, definitely. To get the opportunity to prove myself in that scenario would be fantastic. When I started as a wrestler and got back into wrestling, I always watched Brock’s matches because they are fantastic, they stand out right away. There is nobody like him. I always like those characters. Most of the people doing this who are successful, there is no copy of them. He’s always been a great wrestler, and from when I grew older in my career, I was able to analyze the work and understand the psychology and stuff. You can tell he’s one of the best to ever do it. If I get a chance to get in the ring with him, I would gladly take it.”
GUNTHER says he’s not concerned about WWE sale rumors. He’s leaving that stuff to the executives so he can focus on doing what he does best: winning his matches.
Your reigning Intercontinental champion spoke with the Dallas Morning News this week to promote WWE’s upcoming Royal Rumble premium live event from San Antonio, TX.
It’s been an eventful news week for WWE, to say the least. Stephanie McMahon officially departed the company and Vince is back as Executive Chairman of the WWE Board of Directors. There was also the run-away rumor that WWE sold to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has since been debunked.
During a conversation with reporter Joey Hayden, Gunther was asked for his take on the prospect of Vince McMahon selling WWE to the Saudis.
“I mean, rumors are rumors. And at the end of the day, I’m not the CEO. I’m a wrestler. So, I focus on what I do in the ring and leave the business to the people that do business.”
– GUNTHER
Gunther was also asked about Stephanie McMahon’s resignation, which caught a lot of people off guard. The Austrian grappler says he doesn’t really know her well, but respects her decision to spend more time with her family.
“I’m happy for her that she’s going to be able now to take time off and enjoy time with her family,” he said. “I think you should be happy for anyone who’s in a position to do that. All the best to her.”
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has dominated since winning the title, but 2023 is shaping up to be one very difficult year.
After debuting on the main roster in April, GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental title in June of this year, dethroning Ricochet.
Since then, GUNTHER has retained against Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Rey Mysterio, and had an acclaimed match with Sheamus at WWE Clash at the Castle.
Sheamus
Sheamus Vs. GUNTHER earned five stars from Dave Meltzer, but their Welsh war saw the leader of Imperium keep the gold.
On Twitter, Sheamus responded to a clip of the Clash at the Castle match, claiming that he will become Intercontinental Champion in 2023.
Sheamus is a former WWE, World Heavyweight, U.S., Raw, SmackDown, and WWE Tag Champion, but needs the Intercontinental Gold to complete both the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam.
Drew McIntyre
Sheamus is fixated on dethroning GUNTHER, but Drew McIntyre also has his sights on the Austrian and his title.
During this week’s ‘Absolute Best of 2022’ edition of Monday Night Raw, McIntyre declared his interest in the gold.
“I’ve got my eyes on GUNTHER with the Intercontinental Championship. I see the chatter on social media, I see what happened with himself and Sheamus, I saw the battles. I love competition, I’m a former Intercontinental Champion and I would love to tangle with that man.”
Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre’s one and only Intercontinental title reign saw him dethrone John Morrison at WWE: TLC in December 2009 and would hold the title for 161 days before losing to Kofi Kingston.
It has been reported that GUNTHER Vs. Brock Lesnar is also in the works for WrestleMania 39.
It’s safe to say that 2022 has been one of the wildest years in the history of WWE.
From mass releases to the shock retirement of Vince McMahon, this is a year that none of us will ever, ever forget.
But with 2022 drawing to a close, attention turns to 2023, and a whole new year of matches to look forward to.
Here are five of the most anticipated matches of WWE in the new year.
5: Brock Lesnar Vs. GUNTHER
It has been reported that GUNTHER Vs. Brock Lesnar is in the works for WrestleMania 39.
Can you say PHYSICAL?!
In 2022, there are few names in WWE who have made an impact quite like our reigning Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.
Debuting on the main roster earlier this year, the Austrian powerhouse wasted no time in winning his title from Ricochet, a title he has held for over 200 days.
It was reported recently that right now, WWE’s plan for WrestleMania 39 is for GUNTHER to face Brock Lesnar, in what could be the most hard hitting match we’ve seen in decades.
GUNTHER’s in-ring strength has never been in doubt, while Lesnar is a once in a lifetime athlete who’s 2022 has shown he still has a love for wrestling.
Whether the title is on the line or not, GUNTHER Vs. Lesnar has all the markings of an instant classic, and a match fans are eager to see.
4: Bray Wyatt’s First Match Back
Bray Wyatt returned with a ton of buzz, but WWE needs to pull the trigger with a match soon.
At Extreme Rules, WWE’s excellent White Rabbit build paid off with the return of Bray Wyatt, fifteen months after his controversial release from the company.
Since then, Wyatt has feuded with LA Knight, though his attentions seem to be more focused on the presence of the mysterious Uncle Howdy.
For all of Wyatt’s talk and promos though, Bray is yet to wrestle, something that has not gone unnoticed by fans.
It has been rumored that Wyatt will face Knight in a ‘Pitch Black’ match at the Royal Rumble, though whatever the rules are for said match is unclear.
I guess you could say that with the Pitch Black match, we’re ‘in the dark!’ (I crack myself up.)
While Bray returned with all the momentum in the world, it does feel like some of the shine has come off, and WWE needs to pull the trigger on a match for him soon.
Wyatt’s first match back is hotly anticipated, if nothing else than fans want to see what he can do in the ring as this new character, and we can only imagine his match will come in 2023.
3: Edge’s Final Match
Edge will have the chance to end his career on his own terms next year.
It’s hard to believe that next month will be the third anniversary of Edge’s startling return to wrestling.
In April 2011, fans (and Edge himself) had resigned themselves to the fact that his career was over, tragically cut short by neck issues.
This year has seen Edge compete six times, a slight dip from the ten matches in 2021, but next year may see his final match.
After competing in his native Toronto earlier this year, Edge strongly implied that he will be retiring the next time WWE comes to Canada, which is expected for mid-2023.
If so, then we are not long away from Edge’s final match, and hopefully WWE will give it the build and gravitas it deserves.
Edge’s return to wrestling has been nothing short of miraculous, but the Rated-R Superstar now has the chance to end his in-ring career again, this time on his own terms.
2: Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes
From the moment Cody Rhodes returned, there has been speculation on a match with Roman Reigns. (via WWE)
From the moment Cody Rhodes’ platform was raised at WrestleMania 38, this was a match fans anticipated.
The idea of Rhodes Vs. Reigns was cemented the following night when the American Nightmare spoke about his WWE return, and his desire to become World Champion.
Sure, Rhodes’ injury may have delayed those plans, but it is clear that Cody is destined to hold gold soon.
With rumors of Rhodes returning as part of the Men’s Rumble match, a match he is a favorite among many to win, a match with Reigns seems a matter of when, not if.
But this match will resonate for another reason. It will be WWE’s top star against someone for years considered the face of AEW.
The fact that Cody is in WWE now at all remains mind-blowing, and him facing Reigns has the substance to be an all-time great story, even if there’s one more for the Tribal Chief that fans are anticipating even more…
1: The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns
The Rock & Roman Reigns could be the biggest match WWE has held in a decade.
The People’s Champion Vs. The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
The Brahma Bull Vs. The Tribal Chief.
The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns.
Not since The Rock Vs. John Cena in 2012 has there been this level of excitement for a match, one that WWE has yet to confirm.
Both Reigns and Rock have teased for years that a match between them could happen, but never has it seemed more likely.
From Reigns being at his very best, to Rock’s movie filming schedule being suspiciously free for the first quarter of the year, all the signs are pointing to this match finally happening.
The Rock, now 50 years old, is not the spring chicken he once was, and if not next year, than this match, nor any other match with him, may never happen.
If WWE wants The Rock Vs. Reigns, then 2023 is the time, in what would be the biggest fight we’ve seen in years.
Things could’ve gone much differently for Gunther in the second half of 2022 if Vince McMahon was still running WWE’s main roster creative instead of Triple H.
WrestleVotes has provided more details on its original report from earlier this year, where it was reported that McMahon soured on Gunther and there were plans to bury him on TV following his segment with R-Truth on the July 4th edition of Monday Night Raw.
The Intercontinental Champion interrupted an Independence Day skit hosted by the veteran wrestler before beating him in a match. It wasn’t clear at the time what the issue was with McMahon and Gunther.
Vince McMahon on Gunther
While speaking with GiveMeSport, WrestleVotes noted that Gunther was going to be buried and send to NXT if McMahon was still in charge, but McMahon resigned two weeks later from this episode before he went forward with his plans.
“I know that Vince McMahon just didn’t like what he saw on Raw and was over him, like legitimately wanted to bury him, go back to NXT, that type of stuff.”
According to the report, Triple H thinks Gunther can be the star of big WWE events. The Intercontinental Champion’s bout with Sheamus at Clash at the Castle is credited with dramatically improving that perception.
Posted November 14th, 2022 in WWE, News. Tagged: Gunther.
There are many dream matches for Gunther on the main roster that fans are looking forward to seeing happen. For the WWE Intercontinental Champion, he has shared a dream opponent: Brock Lesnar.
Gunther’s success in WWE has followed him from NXT UK where he was a top star, to NXT to the main roster. He’s been booked as a dominant force on the main roster, winning the Intercontinental Title in June.
GUNTHER has defended the title in several dream matches, most recently putting on banger after banger with Sheamus.
Gunther vs. Lesnar
While speaking with WMBD News, Gunther revealed he has his eye on a match with Brock Lesnar.
“If I had to pin it down to one name, I’d say it’s Brock Lesnar at the moment. When I was young and watching WWE, I enjoyed watching his matches. Later on when I progressed in my career, I was able to watch wrestling and analyze how people work. He’s always been somebody I was impressed with. He’s one of the best to ever do it. I think that’s the biggest possible challenge for me at the moment.”
Lesnar last wrestled at the Crown Jewel premium live event on November 5th by defeating Bobby Lashley.
Cena’s thriving Hollywood career has kept him away from the ring, with his most recent televised match taking place all the way back at Summerslam 2021.
John Cena has faced some of wrestling’s biggest names at WrestleMania, including Bray Wyatt, The Rock, the Big Show, and Shawn Michaels, but who is next for Big Match John?
4 – Austin Theory
Is the long-rumored Cena-Theory match destined to happen at WrestleMania?
To many people, the most obvious choice for WWE, a match between Cena and Theory makes a lot of sense.
It was earlier this year that the two teased a feud, with both men throwing shade at one another on social media.
At the time, fans predicted that a match at Summerslam 2022 was bound to happen, likely for the U.S. Title Theory held earlier this year.
That of course didn’t happen, and while he’s confident the Cena match will come in time, Theory has been on a downward spiral since then, recently failing in his Money in the Bank cash-in attempt.
At just 25 years old, Theory is a star WWE could get a lot out of for years, possibly decades to come, but they need to have that big win.
A match with Cena would be a fantastic mix of generations, and if Theory was to get the win, would set the cocky heel back on track on his road to the main event.
3 – Logan Paul
Logan Paul wowed fans with his gutsy performance against Roman Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel 2022.
Fans may love him or hate him, but there’s no denying Logan Paul’s talent in the ring.
In just three matches, Paul has shown that he can hang with full-time WWE Superstars, and he could soon be sharing the ring with John Cena.
Cena’s thriving Hollywood career and Paul consistent YouTube fame would guarantee the match mainstream exposure, something WWE always wants, especially for WrestleMania.
The story would not need to be too complex, and while WWE could go with a heel Paul disrespecting the legend, the feud would also work as face vs. face.
It could be as simple as Paul saying that he wants to prove himself by facing the best, and boom! John Cena storyline, and Paul recently tweeted interest in the match.
The big question however is Paul’s recent injuries, which are expected to keep him out for the foreseeable future, and could force him to miss WrestleMania.
With that said, Cena himself became known for recovering from injuries at a near super-human rate, and if Paul can match that, then this unlikely dream match is a possibility.
2 – Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER
2022 has been the year of the Austrian powerhouse GUNTHER, who could have a war with John Cena.
As anyone who watches SmackDown will know, 2022 has been the year of GUNTHER.
Debuting on the blue brand earlier this year, the Austrian quickly captured the Intercontinental Championship and has held on to it with an iron grip.
Of course, GUNTHER’s rise to prominence has come during Cena’s hiatus from wrestling, but a match between the two would be a spectacle.
The clash of styles alone would make this a potential Match of the Night, and the story would play into Imperium’s quest for respect for wrestling.
This match is more than wishful thinking, however, as like Paul, GUNTHER has also addressed rumors of a match, and is all for facing Big Match John.
Should he hold the Intercontinental title that long, there would also be the possibility of John Cena finally winning the gold and becoming a Grand Slam Champion, one of a select few accolades not on his resume.
GUNTHER’s title reign has done wonders to bring prestige back to the Intercontinental Championship, and having the biggest star of the past two decades would certainly add to that.
1 – Randy Orton
It’s been over five years since the two veterans faced off. Will WrestleMania 39 mark the end of one of WWE’s biggest feuds?
All matches so far are never before seen bouts, but what if WWE wants an opponent Cena is VERY familiar with?
Holmes and Moriarty. Batman and The Joker. Some opponents are made for each other. Orton and Cena are such a pair.
Fans may groan at the idea of seeing YET ANOTHER Cena-Orton match, but bear in mind that it’s been five years since their last bout, and close to nine years since their last match at a Premium Live Event.
Cena and Orton are two of WWE’s biggest stars, and a rematch (especially one billed as their final collision) is worthy of WrestleMania.
But there’s another reason why this match makes sense for WrestleMania 39: Time.
As we’ve seen, Cena isn’t around as much these days, and it’s not impossible to think that WrestleMania 39 could be the last time he competes at WWE’s flag-ship show.
There’s also questions that need to be raised about Orton, who’s missed most of 2022 with an injury, and is expected to miss the rest of this year.
If WWE wants one final epic Cena-Orton match, then the window of opportunity is closing, and WrestleMania 39 could be a fitting send-off for one of the biggest feuds in wrestling.
Gunther has been pushed as a top star on WWE SmackDown since being called up to the main roster earlier this year and booked strongly as the Intercontinental Champion.
Over the last week, it’s been rumored that John Cena will make his return to WWE for another match at WrestleMania 39 next year in LA. There has been speculation about Cena wrestling Gunther at this show.
At this point in his career, Cena is considered a legend who will occasionally work a rare televised match.
Gunther was interviewed on Steve Fall’s Ten Count YouTube channel before this year’s WWE Survivor Series in Boston later this month. During it, Gunther talked about the rumored match.
Gunther on the Match
“Of course, we could see it. I don’t know what’s going to happen or if it’s going to happen. Obviously, that’s something I would love to do. John Cena is one of the legends. Because he’s not really active at the moment anymore, he just pops up, but when he does, if the chance is there for me, I’ll gladly take it. One of, if not the most popular babyface in this sport of all time. I think I would be a great counterpart to that. I would love to do it.”
Cena’s last match was in August 2021 when he teamed with The Mysterios (Dominik Mysterio & Rey Mysterio) to defeat The Bloodline (Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & Roman Reigns) for a SmackDown dark match while his last televised match was a loss to Reigns in the main event of SummerSlam 2021.
Gunther is scheduled to defend the Intercontinental Championship against Rey Mysterio on Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown.
Rey Mysterio was a member of the RAW roster until a couple of weeks ago. He approached Triple H backstage and tried to quit the company because he refused to fight his son, Dominik Mysterio, and The Judgment Day anymore.
The Game orchestrated a trade with the red brand and sent Baron Corbin to RAW in exchange for the WWE legend. Rey won a Fatal 4-Way on his first night on the blue brand to become #1 contender for the IC Title.
Karrion Kross was originally scheduled to be in the match but Drew McIntyre attacked him following losing to him in the Strap Match at WWE Extreme Rules.
Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) appeared on The SmackDown LowDown this week ahead of the title match this Friday.
During the interview, The Ring General claimed that Rey Mysterio is a legend of the sport but the current version of him is despicable. Gunther added that Rey is in this business for himself while Imperium is in it for the greater good.
Rey Mysterio is a legend of this sport. But the version of him I see right now disgusts me. It’s despicable.
I’m glad he’s happy to be over here on SmackDown and he is having a good time.
And he wants to prove himself again but not at my expense. He’s running away from family issues.
That’s again a difference. He is in this for himself, we are in this for the greater good.
We are Imperium and to us the mat is sacred.
Posted October 29th, 2022 in News. Tagged: Gunther.
Due to the crew flying overseas for Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, next week’s episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, was filmed after the October 28th show.
WWE SmackDown Spoilers
Here are the spoilers for next week (November 4), courtesy of F4Wonline.com:
Liv Morgan defeated Sonya Deville in a no disqualification match. Morgan kicked out of a powerbomb onto a pile of chairs, then won with a springboard facebuster on top of the chairs.
LA Knight defeated Ricochet. Knight hit on ring announcer Samantha Irvin before the match, causing Ricochet to attack him as she and Ricochet are in a relationship. Knight won after reversing Ricochet’s roll-up and grabbing the ropes for leverage.
The Usos cut a promo saying they will be the longest-reigning WWE Tag Team Champions after Crown Jewel. The New Day said that if The Usos retain, they will be waiting for them. The Brawling Brutes attacked the Usos, with Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa coming in to even the odds. The Bloodline end up standing tall.
Shayna Baszler (with Ronda Rousey) defeated Natalya via submission.
Braun Strowman defeated five men picked by MVP. Strowman ended up repeatedly powerslamming MVP.
Gunther defeated Rey Mysterio to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
Posted October 29th, 2022 in WWE, News. Tagged: Gunther.
Sheamus sent a message to Intercontinental Champion Gunther following WWE Extreme Rules.
The Brawling Brutes battled Imperium in a Donnybrook match to start off Extreme Rules. Sheamus, Butch, and Ridge Holland isolated Gunther in the ring at one point during the match. Sheamus hit the 10 Beats of Bodhran as Butch & Ridge stomped the champion down to the mat.
The Celtic Warrior picked up the win for his team by hitting the Brogue Kick on Giovanni Vince for the pinfall victory.
After WWE Extreme Rules went off the air, The Celtic Warrior took to Twitter to take a shot at the champion. Gunther defended his Intercontinental Championship against Sheamus at Clash at the Castle in an instant classic.
They met again on this past Friday’s episode of SmackDown in the main event. Sheamus appeared to have the match won after applying the Cloverleaf and Gunther pounded on the mat. Referee Jessika Carr claimed that Gunther didn’t tap out and the match continued. Gunther then bashed Sheamus over the head with a shillelagh to retain the title.
Sheamus claimed that Gunther is a cheat and tapped out on SmackDown. The Celtic Warrior also boasted about The Brawling Brutes beating down the champion tonight at Extreme Rules.
Let it be known that 24 hours in hell showed ‘The Ring General’ to be nothing more than a dishonorable defeated cheat.. submitted then torn apart by 3 hungry dogs. Oh, and he tapped. What’s mine is mine. #ICTitle
Let it be known that 24 hours in hell showed ‘The Ring General’ to be nothing more than a dishonourable defeated cheat.. submitted then torn apart by 3 hungry dogs. Oh, and he tapped. What’s mine is mine. #ICTitlepic.twitter.com/fIEVFZW0hJ
Sheamus has never won the Intercontinental Championship in his incredible WWE career. Time will tell if he will be able to take it from the hands of The Ring General.
