In a historic showdown on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Charlotte, North Carolina, GUNTHER faced Chad Gable in a clash that would determine the fate of the longest Intercontinental Championship reign in WWE history.
A reign that started on June 10, 2022, and has seen GUNTHER defend his title against luminaries like Braun Strowman, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet, and Matt Riddle, would either meet its end or create a new epoch in the championship’s rich lineage.
Gable, who had previously handed GUNTHER a rare loss by countout, walked into the ring brimming with confidence as he is buoyed by his family sitting ringside. The match was a culmination of a series of electric showdowns between the two wrestlers, with WWE pulling out all the stops to stage this climactic third and likely final encounter. Vignettes, segments, and highlight reels of past champions peppered the show, fueling anticipation to a fever pitch.
Gable initially seized control, targeting GUNTHER’s legs to set up for his devastating Ankle Lock. The underdog goaded the champion into charging at him, absorbing punishing chops to the chest but pressing on. He came tantalizingly close to winning with a two-count off a Chaos Theory German suplex and tightened his Ankle Lock, leaving the audience in nail-biting suspense. However, GUNTHER’s resilience shone through, as he used his one good leg to kick Gable away. Following up with a Kobashi-style sleeper suplex, a powerbomb, and a lariat, GUNTHER successfully defended his title for the fifteenth time, thereby ensuring that he will surpass Honky Tonk Man’s 35-year-old record of 454 consecutive days as the Intercontinental Champion.
Post-match, GUNTHER expressed little surprise at achieving this monumental feat. In a WWE interview, he reflected that names like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin could all “lace his boots.” He also made it clear that he had no plans of relinquishing his title anytime soon, declaring, “there is no man born yet” who could pry it from him. This added yet another feather to the cap of the Ring General, who already holds the record for the longest reign as NXT UK Champion, a title that has now been retired.
GUNTHER’s candid demeanor outside the ring is as engaging as his in-ring exploits. He’s doesn’t worry about “what ifs” and “what could happen” and prefers to dwell on his immediate journey rather than bask in the future accolades.
WWE aficionados hailed this face-off as one of the greatest in modern wrestling, its narrative meticulously constructed from start to finish. Gable’s spirited resistance not only amplified the suspense but also elevated his stock within the WWE as a performer, a gratifying outcome despite the loss that left his family in tears at ringside. Yet, at the end of the day, it was GUNTHER who reigned supreme, carving out a new chapter in WWE history and fortifying the Intercontinental Championship’s legacy as WWE’s workhorse title.
With that said, it’s become a lot easier to envision GUNTHER as a contender for a top-tier title in the WWE, presumably living up to his earlier statements of facing off against Cody Rhodes again.
