Gunther continues to stand as a remarkable attraction within the WWE universe, carving his name in history as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in the company’s extensive legacy.
Since its inception in 1979, no one has held the prestigious belt longer than The Ring General, boasting an impressive reign of 640 days and counting.
While some may argue that Sami Zayn, Gunther’s upcoming challenger at WrestleMania XL, might not be the ideal contender to end his streak, another formidable opponent emerges in the form of Bron Breakker.
Recently, Bron Breakker reminisced about three of his most devastating spears, one of which he executed on Gunther during their shared time in NXT, underscoring his claim as the last individual to defeat The Ring General in WWE.
“I’m also the last person to beat Gunther, just in case anybody was wondering. Sent his a** packing,” Bron Breakker proudly declared. “He’s been running from me ever since.”
Their paths intersected at the Royal Rumble in January during the titular bout, sparking speculation that they would clash once more on the Road to WrestleMania. However, Breakker’s exclusivity to SmackDown altered the trajectory of their potential rivalry.
Bron Breakker’s ascent within the WWE ranks draws inevitable comparisons to former champion Brock Lesnar, earning praise from both contemporaries and legends alike.
Veteran Jim Cornette even hailed Breakker as a version of Lesnar “with none of the problems,” alluding to controversies surrounding The Beast amid the Vince McMahon scandal.
As anticipation mounts regarding a possible showdown between Gunther and Breakker on the grand stage of WrestleMania, the Intercontinental Champion acknowledges Breakker’s burgeoning talent:
“If I would face him at WrestleMania, I would be confident. Because my advantage towards him is almost a 20-year career. He is still very young and inexperienced in that, but I think he has all the potential in the world.”
Presently, Breakker has primarily appeared on SmackDown for squash matches, yet to delve into any major storyline.
However, speculation looms that he and Baron Corbin might defend the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT Stand & Deliver during the WrestleMania weekend, setting the stage for potential future encounters.