Gunther might have drawn negative reactions from many WWE fans after making John Cena submit to a sleeper hold in what was Cena’s final match on WWE Saturday Night Main Event on December 13, but WWE’s Lana sees him quite differently. In an interview on TMZ Sports’ “Inside the Ring,” Lana expressed strong admiration for Gunther’s work as a villain, saying she became a big fan after witnessing his last match against Cena.
Lana stated, “Rusev is the best heel in my opinion, but Gunther is right up there with him. Of course, I’m going to be a little biased. When you think of a heel, you think, ‘Oh, I don’t like that guy. I just hate him.’ That’s a good heel, and that’s exactly what Gunther was doing.”
She confessed feeling nervous before watching the match, but noted that Gunther’s effectiveness came from his relentless and unflashy approach as a heel. Instead of flashy moves, he uses simple but brutal tactics like choking his opponent, which fans can easily understand and connect with.
Lana emphasized, “He doesn’t try to be cool on social media or popular. He’s all about crushing people’s souls and dreams.”
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Fan Take: This recognition from Lana highlights Gunther’s mastery in portraying a convincing villain, essential for storytelling in WWE. For the sport, it signals a shift towards more grounded, intense heel performances that resonate deeply with fans and elevate the drama in wrestling.
