GUNTHER Admits His World Title Run Has Been “Less Than Ideal”

GUNTHER’s reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion hasn’t been as dominant as many expected, and now, the champ himself is admitting it. In a recent interview with Daily Mail, GUNTHER got real about the last few months, revealing that his run hasn’t been up to his own standards.

“I don’t think the last few months were ideal for me,” GUNTHER admitted. “I lost to Cody (Rhodes), and then everything that—that feud with (Damian) Priest, it didn’t allow me to show the best side of me, if that makes sense. But I think now I’m back to my old self. I feel my mojo again.”

Despite being six months into his reign and only the fourth person to hold this version of the World Heavyweight Championship, GUNTHER has only defended the title five times on television. It’s a stark contrast to his record-setting Intercontinental Championship reign, where he consistently put on match-of-the-year contenders while elevating the title to one of the most prestigious in the company.

His lackluster run as World Champion hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans, who have pointed out that WWE’s booking hasn’t positioned him as the dominant force he was as Intercontinental Champion. His feud with Damian Priest leading into the Royal Rumble didn’t deliver the kind of high-stakes battles many expected, and GUNTHER himself admitted that it didn’t allow him to be at his best.

Now, with a WrestleMania 41 title defense against Jey Uso, GUNTHER is looking to turn things around and finally cement himself as the true top guy on Monday Night RAW. But with John Cena set to retire at the end of 2025, he’s already thinking about one more potential blockbuster showdown.

“It’s the last chance to get in the ring with him, so if that ever becomes a possibility, I would definitely take that. John Cena is obviously one of the wrestlers, you can put him onto Mount Rushmore. If I get the chance, I would definitely like to do that. Let’s see how it plays out. Maybe I can end up as his last chance to win a championship at some point in that year, and I can be the one that crushes all those dreams. That would be very enjoyable.”

If GUNTHER wants to go from underwhelming to undeniable as WWE’s top champion, WrestleMania 41 might be his last shot to prove it. But will his reign finally reach the level fans expected, or will he go down as one of the most forgettable World Champions in recent years?