Gunther successfully defended his title against Goldberg at the main event on Saturday night and reclaimed Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship on the June 9 episode of Monday Night Raw. However, with Gunther set to defend the title against CM Punk at Summerslam 2025, there’s limited time to set up compelling matches with other potential contenders before he possibly loses the championship.
Regardless of how long Gunther remains champion, these are some wrestlers who should have the opportunity to face him to elevate their profiles and add fresh excitement to the World Heavyweight Championship scene.
8. Ilja Dragunov
– Dragunov and Gunther showcased great chemistry during their NXT days.
– After recovering from injury, Dragunov needs a high-profile match like this.
– They have yet to face each other on WWE’s main roster.
Gunther and Dragunov haven’t met since NXT, where their matches were highlights of the year. Dragunov’s return match against Gunther could propel him into stardom on Monday Night Raw while reigniting their compelling rivalry for the broader WWE audience.
7. Bron Breakker
– Breakker once defeated Gunther in NXT.
– WWE has teased a match between them multiple times.
– Facing Gunther helps Breakker improve as a wrestler.
Although teased before, the long-awaited Bron Breakker vs Gunther bout on the main roster must happen. This matchup would solidify Breakker’s status and add intensity to the world title contention, given their shared history.
6. Bronson Reed
– Fans were impressed by Reed’s feud with Seth Rollins last year.
– He hasn’t been pushed toward world title scenes yet.
– Gunther’s style complements wrestling against bigger stars like Reed.
Gunther excels with opponents of all sizes, and a match with Bronson Reed would be a powerful clash. Reed’s potential hasn’t been fully unleashed, and a rivalry with Gunther would elevate him into main event territory.
5. Tyler Bate
– Gunther and Bate had a standout match in NXT UK.
– WWE could use open challenges to facilitate their match.
– Bate’s skills have been underappreciated on the main roster.
Their memorable NXT UK encounter deserved to push Bate higher, but he’s yet to shine on Raw or SmackDown. An open challenge scenario could spotlight Bate as the valiant underdog, rejuvenating his WWE career without needing a title win.
4. AJ Styles
– Gunther and Styles would make an excellent match.
– Many fans consider this a dream matchup.
– Styles, a former world champion, can elevate Gunther’s stature.
Though they’ve worked live events together, their first televised WWE match is overdue. Styles brings star power that would further legitimize Gunther as a dominant champion, creating a must-watch showdown.
3. Sheamus
– Sheamus is a multiple-time world champion.
– He and Gunther have delivered show-stealing matches.
– Fans enjoy the intensity they bring to their bouts.
Although Sheamus hasn’t been in the world title picture recently, his rivalry with Gunther offers a narrative of a veteran chasing the championship while Gunther defends fiercely, promising a gripping contest.
2. Ludwig Kaiser
– Kaiser and Gunther were former allies in Imperium.
– Their unfinished WWE story could be compelling.
– Kaiser has the talent to rise as a top singles star.
Their drifting apart was never fully explored on-screen. Revisiting their alliance and conflict could deepen WWE storytelling, giving Kaiser a significant push by challenging his former partner and faction leader.
1. Penta
– Penta has maintained strong momentum on RAW in 2025.
– He and Gunther have appeared together at live events.
– Elevating Penta into main event contention is the next step.
Penta has shown promise as a solo star, and a program or title match against Gunther could spotlight both wrestlers. Such a push would benefit WWE’s masked luchador presence, much like WWE once boosted Rey Mysterio to the big stage.
Fan Take: This lineup of challengers highlights WWE’s potential to create fresh, compelling rivalries around Gunther’s World Heavyweight Championship, blending emerging talents with seasoned veterans. For fans, this means thrilling new matchups that could redefine the championship scene and bring renewed excitement to WWE programming.
