During a recent appearance on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna’ Talk About? podcast, WWE star GUNTHER revealed that he never closely followed John Cena’s WWE legacy while growing up. Despite having defeated Cena in what was promoted as the latter’s final WWE match, GUNTHER admitted the victory felt more like routine than a defining career moment for him. He explained that his wrestling fandom focused mainly on Japanese and Indian wrestling during his formative years, which meant he missed many of Cena’s most iconic moments.
“It almost felt more intense than WrestleMania that day. Backstage, I could tell. And for me, I always catch myself in those moments because I’ve never made a secret about it — I wasn’t a big WWE guy when I first started wrestling. I was always a big nerd for Japanese wrestling and even Indian wrestling. That’s what I followed, especially when I was younger, around 18, 19, and into my early 20s,”
GUNTHER said.
He further remarked,
“A lot of those big memories that came with John, I didn’t really live through. I was reading results and things like that. So I caught myself in the middle of this situation—the emotional stone that I am—while everyone else was very worked up. But for my own benefit, it was great to be the guy who could pull the rug out from under everybody.”
Additionally, GUNTHER disclosed minimal prior interaction with Cena before their match, stating,
“I think until the day of the match, I maybe said hello to him twice. That was all the interaction we ever had.”
He acknowledged the significance of the event in his career:
“It was the biggest thing I’ve done in my career — the first time I was part of something with that kind of magnitude, where you could really feel how much it affected everybody.”
AJ Styles Shares Wrestling Aspirations and Mentorship Philosophy
In a separate discussion on the Talk’N Shop podcast, retired WWE star AJ Styles expressed regret over never having faced some of WWE’s current talents, including PENTA and Rey Fenix. Both competitors, noted for their impressive in-ring skills, are now part of WWE’s main roster, and Styles emphasized that matches against them would have been thrilling.
Addressing the value of mentorship in wrestling, Styles stressed the importance of asking questions and learning from veterans:
“So it there’s not any wrong questions. It doesn’t matter how new you are to this entertainment business. Just ask the question, dude. Because sometimes I don’t think like a fan, and at that point in their career, they still are. We all are.”
He recounted taking his son to an independent wrestling match and realizing how unfamiliar newer fans might be with certain moves.
He elaborated,
“So we have to sometimes when they don’t know our stuff make sure we do it at least once so that it can be counted later on. You know we forget about like a simple up and over. It’s because before that, he threw us in the corner and freaking tore our guts out by putting a shoulder in it. So the next time it happens if the up and over happens and he takes the buckle, and then we can get on it. That’s you know what I’m saying? That’s the things we forget about the small things.”
Styles’ reflections underline how wrestling veterans can play a crucial role in nurturing new talent and maintaining the craft’s continuity.
Understanding GUNTHER’s Unique Wrestling Background
GUNTHER’s candid admission about not being a traditional WWE fan highlights the diverse paths wrestlers take before reaching the global spotlight. His admiration for Japanese and Indian wrestling styles during his teenage years shaped his approach to the sport and set him apart from peers more entrenched in WWE’s American-centric narrative.
This background possibly contributed to his different emotional response during his bout with John Cena. While Cena’s WWE legacy carries deep emotional resonance for many fans and wrestlers alike, GUNTHER’s experience reflects how not all performers share the same frame of reference, despite competing at the highest level.
The Broader Wrestling Community Reacts and Evolves
Elsewhere in the wrestling world, figures like AJ Styles continue engaging with younger wrestlers, fostering growth and preserving wrestling’s intricate language. Styles’ emphasis on mentorship complements GUNTHER’s story, illustrating how the next generation of stars is valued and guided.
Meanwhile, key figures in WWE and its competitive counterparts maintain ongoing storylines and personal development both in and out of the ring, showcasing the wrestling community’s dynamic and ever-changing nature. The significance of deep-rooted history, like Cena’s WWE legacy, coexists with emerging talents’ fresh perspectives and global influences.
What This Means for the Future of WWE Storytelling
GUNTHER’s experience sheds light on how different wrestling cultures and backgrounds interplay within WWE’s broader narrative framework. As the company continues to spotlight diverse talents from around the world, acknowledging varied wrestling heritages becomes increasingly important. This diversity can enrich storytelling by presenting fresh angles on legacy figures like John Cena and new icons rising in WWE.
Fans and wrestlers alike can expect future interactions to blend respect for historical WWE legacies with innovative influences from global wrestling traditions. GUNTHER’s perspective serves as a reminder that the wrestling world involves a wide array of experiences and emotions, reflecting its complex cultural fabric.
