Current WWE champion, The Tribal Chief - 5 challengers for Gunther if he moves to SmackDown
Gunther has truly found himself after winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The RAW Superstar could move to SmackDown soon, especially after the red brand’s Netflix premiere.
WWE could push Cody Rhodes to the RAW brand, forcing The Ring General to take his dominating title reign to the blue brand. He could come across some big names who could challenge him for his World Heavyweight Championship.
Gunther has already run through some top names, including Damian Priest, Randy Orton, and Sami Zayn. That said, this article will look at five fresh challengers Gunther could face on SmackDown.
#5. Andrade has been building himself on WWE SmackDown
Andrade’s WWE return has proven to be good for the superstar. He has had a notable rivalry with Carmelo Hayes and is building up to be a contender for the United States Championship.
While El Idolo may not be a top contender for the world title yet, things could change next year as he builds up his case well with some great matches. Triple H likes to give fans what they want at times, and many fans want to see Andrade finally get some world title opportunities.
Andrade could be a great opponent for Gunther, even if he loses in his efforts to win the title. A rivalry with The Ring General will surely help him stay on top of the SmackDown brand.
#4. Solo Sikoa still considers himself The Tribal Chief
Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline may have lost the WWE Survivor Series: WarGames match against Roman Reigns’ team, but he still considers himself The Tribal Chief. WWE will have to give him some big matches and convincing wins to ensure that he and his faction remain in the spotlight if he wants to continue the gimmick.
Gunther’s move to the SmackDown brand could bring him into Sikoa’s crosshair. The Samoan star was another animal under Roman Reigns’ leadership, and he could reignite that fire to have a few good matches against The Ring General.
Solo Sikoa has already had a few unsuccessful world title matches. However, another one for the World Heavyweight Championship could keep him at the top of the roster.
#3. AJ Styles could return for another title feud
AJ Styles has had his fair share of injuries in recent years. The Phenomenal One has a knack for giving his opponents some great matches to remember.
While WWE may not plan to put another world title on Styles before he retires, he could continue to make other superstars look better in the ring. Gunther could get the rub from the SmackDown veteran if he moves to the brand.
AJ Styles is among the top wrestlers in the world, and a rivalry with Gunther will ensure that he continues to compete in some top rivalries. Meanwhile, the World Heavyweight Champion will surely benefit from competing against one of the best the industry has ever seen.
#2. Tommaso Ciampa and Gunther have met in the past
Tommaso Ciampa works best as a heel, and the SmackDown star recently turned heel to win the WWE Tag Team Championship alongside Johnny Gargano. While tag team gold looks good on Ciampa, singles titles look even better.
The Blackheart has crossed paths with Gunther in NXT. The two men could go head to head once again if the World Heavyweight Champion moves to SmackDown.
A solo run for Ciampa would be great for his development, and he could get in the top title picture if he continues in his heel role. He has the potential to give anyone a run for their money in the ring.
#1. LA Knight has fans behind him
LA Knight lost the United States Championship to Shinsuke Nakamura at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames. He will likely remain in a rivalry with The Artist for some time.
He could then move on to the world title picture as fans are still behind him for a notable title run. While Cody Rhodes may move to the RAW brand, the World Heavyweight Champion could come to SmackDown.
That could allow him to face one of the most dominant men in the business to prove his worth. While his US Title run wasn’t the best, he could take down Gunther to prove himself and earn his first world title reign.