Current champion wants to wrestle WWE RAW's Gunther
Gunther's absence on WWE RAW won't be for long, as many believe he is on the verge of becoming the flagship show's face that runs the place. The 2024 King of the Ring will challenge whoever walks out of Money in the Bank this weekend as World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam on August 3.
NXT North American Champion Oba Femi was recently asked who would he like to mix things up with inside the ring. At 26, the NXT star is able to identify himself with Gunther. Another name he added to his list was Ilja Dragunov.
Speaking on The A Show on RNC Radio, Oba Femi elaborated on why he believes these two athletes stand apart in his eyes. According to the rising star, both of them do simple things right, and that is something he goes for as well every time he steps into the ring:
"Gunther. Let me say Ilja (Dragunov), too, because I really wanted to wrestle Ilja before he left NXT. I knew, the writing was on the wall, and I was like, ‘Ah, I might not get to wrestle this guy.’ But Gunther, Ilja, I like people who do simple things well, and I feel like those two are the embodiment of that. I also believe that I fit into that category as well, of just doing simple things well, and I would have loved to see what I could have done with those guys," he said.
Ilja Dragunov moved to RAW as part of the 2024 WWE Draft. The company knows that there is a section of fans who hope to see Dragunov face the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion at some point on the main roster.
Their history goes way back to August 2021 when The Mad Dragon handed Gunther (then going by the name Walter) a rare loss—that too by submission—and in the process, ended The Ring General's 870-day reign as NXT UK Champion.
Damian Priest, Seth Rollins, or...Who will Gunther face at WWE SummerSlam?
World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest will defend his belt against the recently returned Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank on Saturday. Unfortunately for either man, a win in this match alone may not confirm their spot at SummerSlam.
There is also the annual Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match. This year's contest features Jey Uso, Speed Champion Andrade, Carmelo Hayes, Chad Gable, LA Knight, and Drew McIntyre.
WWE has an interesting full-circle moment in their hands for the weekend. Priest has reiterated in the last few weeks that Rollins was the man he wanted to cash in his Money in the Bank contract on at WrestleMania XL.
Ultimately, The Judgment Day star wound up executing it on Drew McIntyre, who will look to win his first briefcase in WWE. With CM Punk taken out by the Scot just over a week ago, could this be his moment to take home the victory?