Brock Lesnar is set to make his WWE Raw comeback in Atlanta after a prolonged absence since the 2026 Royal Rumble, sparking anticipation around his potential WrestleMania 42 opponents. One of the fighters sending a clear message ahead of Lesnar’s return is Gunther, who is now firmly in the spotlight as a possible rival at WWE’s biggest event. The Road to WrestleMania is intensifying with key qualifying matches and tributes unfolding on Raw’s final episode before Elimination Chamber: Chicago.
Rising Stakes on Raw Before Elimination Chamber
Monday’s WWE Raw will feature critical matches determining the final entrants for the Elimination Chamber event. On the women’s side, Raquel Rodriguez, Kairi Sane, and IYO SKY are competing to secure the last spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, according to Netflix. Meanwhile, Bronson Reed, Jey Uso, and The Original El Grande American are battling for a place in the men’s chamber bout. Complementing this, the night will include a significant tribute to AJ Styles, whose career was abruptly ended after losing a career-threatening match to Gunther at the Royal Rumble.
Gunther Challenges Lesnar with a Clear Warning
During a guest appearance on The Morning Shift radio show on 92.9 The Game, Gunther addressed questions about who could be his next major opponent following his dominant runs over Bill Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles in just six months. When asked about potential challengers, one of the hosts nominated Brock Lesnar, which drew a pointed response from Gunther. He remarked,
“That’s a good one, right? So, yeah, we’ll see. I think there are a bunch of examples of people who overstay their welcome, who just hang on a little bit too much, who chase one moment too much. It seems like there is a big amount of people to choose from.”
?Gunther, WWE Star
This exchange fueled speculation as Gunther versus Lesnar was previously considered for WrestleMania 40 but was sidelined after Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon caused Lesnar’s extended absence of more than two years. In addition to Gunther, other rumored opponents for Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 include Oba Femi, who interacted with Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, and LA Knight, who was reportedly slated as his challenger in early January, based on reports from Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Predictions Point to a Future Lesnar-Gunther Clash at SummerSlam
While some fans and insiders are eager for a Lesnar-Gunther showdown at WrestleMania 42, wrestling analyst Bryan Alvarez expressed on Wrestling Observer Live that this matchup might be better suited for SummerSlam. Alvarez suggested that Lesnar’s WrestleMania 42 opponent will more likely be Oba Femi, while Gunther could be the one to retire Lesnar at SummerSlam in Minneapolis.
“I think Oba Femi beating Brock Lesnar would be a much bigger deal,”
Alvarez said.
And if Lesnar is going to retire in 2026, which is rumored, a lot of retirements coming up, I would have Oba Femi beat him at Mania, and Gunther beat him in his last match at SummerSlam.”
?Bryan Alvarez, Wrestling Analyst
Given that Lesnar’s roots trace back to Minneapolis, where he was a two-time All-American for the Minnesota Golden Gophers before signing with WWE in 2000, holding his final match there at SummerSlam would offer a symbolic conclusion to his career. This scenario underscores the growing anticipation around Lesnar’s future and the careful build-up of his potential opponents leading into this landmark event.
