Gunther’s WWE Title Reign Faces Criticism as Character Struggles Emerge

STAMFORD, Conn. — Gunther, WWE‘s reigning World Heavyweight Champion, is facing mounting criticism as his title reign struggles to maintain momentum. Once celebrated as “The Ring General” for his dominant Intercontinental Championship run, Gunther’s current stint as Raw‘s top champion has been marked by inconsistency and a lack of clear direction.

Gunther’s rise to prominence began with a record-breaking 666-day Intercontinental Championship reign, during which he delivered memorable matches against stars like Sheamus and Drew McIntyre. However, since capturing the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 2024, his character has faltered. Wrestling veteran Vince Russo recently criticized WWE’s decision to have Gunther lose to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40, calling it detrimental to his aura. “I hated the Gunther loss to Sami Zayn, man. I really did. And I believe that hurt him,” Russo said on his podcast, *The Brand*.

Gunther’s struggles intensified after his defeat to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel in November 2024. Following the loss, Gunther displayed uncharacteristic self-doubt, delivering solemn speeches to his ally Ludwig Kaiser about the need to improve. While fans initially applauded his accountability, his subsequent rejection of their support left his character undefined. “I’m still the World Heavyweight Champion… It’s on me to take responsibility. It’s on me to do better,” Gunther said in a Raw promo, but his actions failed to align with his words.

Adding to the confusion, Gunther’s interactions with fans have been inconsistent. During a public appearance in Saudi Arabia, he initially won over the crowd with a warm greeting, only to dismiss their chants of “You deserve it” moments later. “Guys, I’m very flattered. But telling me what I deserve and do not deserve is not up to you,” he said, leaving fans deflated.

Compounding the issue, Gunther has been overshadowed by high-profile rivalries involving CM Punk and Seth Rollins. Notably, he was absent from Raw’s Netflix premiere, which featured appearances by Cody Rhodes, The Undertaker, and even Macaulay Culkin. This absence further diminished his standing as Raw’s top champion.

As WrestleMania 41 approaches, speculation swirls about Gunther’s future. WWE analyst Peter Rosenberg suggested that John Cena, who recently returned to Raw, should dethrone Gunther if they face off. “If the first thing he’s gonna do is have a big run with Gunther, I don’t think he should lose the first thing he does. I think that kinda kills the run,” Rosenberg said on his *Cheap Heat* podcast.

With his character in flux and his title reign under scrutiny, Gunther faces a critical juncture. Whether WWE can recalibrate his trajectory or opts to end his reign remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: “The Ring General” needs a reset to reclaim his place as one of WWE’s most compelling stars.