CM Punk publicly praised Gunther as the best wrestler in the world ahead of their highly anticipated WWE SummerSlam match. This recognition comes as their championship bout looms, highlighting the tension and excitement building between the two RAW superstars.
Punk earned the number one contender spot for the World Heavyweight Championship after defeating Bron Breakker in a challenging Gauntlet Match on RAW. Since then, the confrontation between Punk and champion Gunther, known as The Ring General, has intensified verbally, with Gunther even managing to silence Punk on one occasion, raising doubts about the outcome. However, their upcoming match marks the first televised one-on-one encounter for these competitors.
CM Punk Opens Up About Gunther’s Wrestling Skills and Persona
On the Good Guy / Bad Guy podcast, CM Punk set aside his usual antagonist role to commend Gunther’s abilities and presence. Punk expressed genuine excitement about facing Gunther, singling him out as the best wrestler currently active and emphasizing how Gunther carries the championship belt as solid proof of his standing.
“Gunther’s a guy that I feel I’m super excited to get in the ring with. He’s on fire, like this dude is the best wrestler in the world. He’s got the gold to prove it, too. But like just everything about him is a throwback. I think he’s refreshing. I think he’s real. He had me speechless the one Monday and I’m almost speechless now trying to explain like how excited I am to get in there with him. He’s a guy who represents the business to me. He’s a guy who represents the current business,” Punk said. [From 19:45 to 20:30]
This praise underscores the respect Punk holds for Gunther, who is often viewed as a throwback to a more traditional style of wrestling while still embodying the best aspects of the modern WWE product.
Timeless Appeal of Gunther’s Wrestling Style
Besides recognizing Gunther’s status as the best wrestler on RAW today, Punk also highlighted how Gunther’s character and in-ring approach possess a timeless quality. According to Punk, Gunther’s style could succeed in any decade, showcasing both the versatility and enduring appeal of the champion’s persona.
“You could take him and you could drop him into a territory in the 60s and he would thrive. You could put him in Madison Square Garden in the 70s across from Bruno (Sammartino) or whatever, and he would thrive. So, he transcends decades to me so, he’s one of the best right now,” Punk said. [From 20:32 to 20:47]
This perspective extends Gunther’s significance beyond the present moment, positioning him among wrestling’s elite across eras. Gunther recently demonstrated this by delivering a memorable 15-minute retirement match against WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg, considered one of the standout bouts of Goldberg’s career.
The upcoming World Heavyweight Championship showdown between CM Punk and Gunther on Night 1 of SummerSlam is notable as it is their first televised singles encounter, setting the stage for a potentially historic match. Fans are eager to see if Punk’s appraisal of Gunther holds true in the ring or if the challenger will seize the title.
