Gunther opens up about humbling WWE moment that lasted 3 minutes
Gunther has dominated WWE since arriving. The Imperium leader has had two major championship reigns while going toe-to-toe with top superstars in memorable moments and Match Of The Year candidates. Some might say the run has not been entirely positive as The Ring General Gunther was once squashed on the big stage, but now he's opening up on why this humbling was a massive reason for his success.
WWE Survivor Series 2019 was the only November tradition to feature NXT in the otherwise usual blue-brand vs. red-brand battle. The 5-on-5-on-5 Men's Elimination Match saw Team SmackDown defeat Team RAW and Team NXT. After brawling with Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman, Gunther took a Claymore for the pinfall elimination at two minutes and fifty-seven seconds in a major shocker. Fans began the match with "WALTER!" chants, but now they were booing.
The Ring General was already finding success in WWE, but he sees the quick Survivor Series debut loss from his NXT days as a major contributor to how he's grown since then, and really just a part of the business. Speaking to Ten Count Media, the 37-year-old revealed why the elimination did not have any negative impact on his career. Gunther was asked to explain how the squash happened, and how it helped him in his career.
"Yeah, that's just how things go sometimes. There's not much you can say, there was a decision that was made, and you go along with it, try to make the best out of it, but I don't know. I don't think it was a negative. Just hearing the crowd reactions, and also the reactions when I came, when I started doing my bit in that match, and then getting eliminated early. I think that did something to me," Gunther said.
The former Walter continued why the quick elimination did not hurt his career and how many disgruntled wrestling fans were very vocal about the incident, which got people talking about him. The World Heavyweight Champion also noted the importance of being able to eat humble pie sometimes.
"When you have a fanbase or something like that, and something, especially in wrestling, something happens to you that they think is not right for you, they're going to be very vocal about it, they're going to be very loud about it. So, I think it added to my popularity in that sense, I would say, because a lot of people spoke about it. So, I think no harm was done, and everybody needs to be able to take a humbling experience here and there. So, I'm totally fine with it," Gunther added. [00:23 to 1:23]
Watch the video below for his comments:
Gunther's Survivor Series debut came 317 days into his rookie year as a WWE Superstar and 234 days into his historic reign as NXT UK Champion. The former Walter went on to hold the now-defunct title for a record 870 days, while his historic Intercontinental Championship reign was intact for a record 666 days.
The Bull From Vienna is currently 107 days into his first World Heavyweight Championship run in WWE.
Gunther to defend at WWE Survivor Series
WWE is less than two weeks away from presenting Survivor Series: WarGames from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The 38th annual PLE will mark the third time the main roster has used WarGames.
Gunther will be in Survivor Series singles action this year, like in 2023 when the then-Intercontinental Champion retained over The Miz. This year the World Heavyweight Champion will be defending against Damian Priest in a rematch from SummerSlam, where The Ring General Gunther dethroned The Archer of Infamy.
WWE Survivor Series 2019 was Gunther's only multi-man match at the annual November PLE. He did not work the show in 2020, 2021, or 2022, but returned last year to continue his legendary Intercontinental Championship reign against The Miz.
If you use the above quotes, please credit the original source and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.