Gunther has just secured the biggest win of his career by making John Cena submit in the main event of Saturday Night, leading to Cena’s retirement. This stunning outcome has turned Gunther into WWE’s top villain, generating boos and strong backlash from the fans. To maintain this momentum, it is crucial to carefully plan Gunther’s next steps, which will likely begin at the upcoming Royal Rumble.
Gunther must be booked as an unstoppable force in WWE, remaining undefeated for an extended period. WWE needs to build him up further before allowing anyone to defeat him and gain star status. He already boasts an impressive undefeated streak and is the only wrestler in the last two decades to make John Cena tap out, instantly raising his profile as a top heel. His confident and commanding presence is reminiscent of his dominant Intercontinental Championship reign.
Having a dominant monster heel like Gunther is a proven way to generate heat, create new fan favorites, and build anticipation for their eventual defeat. Despite some fan criticism of Roman Reigns’ long championship run, it coincided with the rise of popular new stars like Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes. Gunther has cemented his place on the WWE roster, and WWE must capitalize on his victory over Cena to solidify his status.
The logical next step is for Gunther to win the 2026 Royal Rumble match, positioning him in the world title scene for WrestleMania 42. Reports suggest WrestleMania 42 will feature Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes and CM Punk vs. Bron Breaker, but these plans should be reconsidered in favor of pushing Gunther. He already holds the record for the longest time spent in the Royal Rumble and has been a finalist multiple times. Winning this year would elevate him significantly more than a repeat win for Reigns and provide a fresh and exciting main event storyline.
New Royal Rumble winners are always welcomed, and while repeat winners like John Cena and Randy Orton have faced fan backlash in the past, Gunther as a first-time winner is a perfect fit. As an established main eventer, Gunther deserves this victory to further his rise.
If Gunther defeats Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, his status will rise even more. Gunther vs. Rhodes is seen as WWE’s new top feud, with Rhodes in need of a strong heel challenger on SmackDown. Gunther should beat Rhodes to retain the WWE Championship for a lengthy run, adding prestige to both the title and his character.
Their previous encounter at Crown Jewel 2024 lacked stakes and intensity, but a championship match at WrestleMania would be a highly anticipated, higher-quality showdown. Rhodes’ WWE title reign has been underwhelming due to the lack of top-tier heels to challenge him, so Gunther’s arrival as a dominant heel will elevate the title scene.
Gunther’s Royal Rumble win would set him up to challenge Rhodes for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, potentially giving Gunther a major WrestleMania victory and creating new opportunities for rising stars to build towards ending his dominant reign someday.
Fan Take: Gunther’s meteoric rise and poised dominance mark an exciting era for WWE, injecting fresh energy into the main event scene. This storyline holds promise for unforgettable rivalries and could redefine what it means to be a top heel in the sport today.
