Gunther closed out 2025 with a commanding performance, defeating John Cena in what turned out to be Cena’s final WWE match, marking a pivotal moment for the promotion and its fans. The John Cena retirement match became a trending topic as Gunther later shared his reflections on social media, highlighting the impact of his successful year.
Gunther’s World Title Journey and Notable Matches Through 2025
Early in 2025, Gunther, the Austrian powerhouse, saw his first reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion come to an end when Jey Uso bested him at WrestleMania 41. The championship loss was temporary, as Gunther reclaimed the prestigious title a few months later. His journey through the year featured high-profile victories, most notably overcoming Goldberg and finally, putting John Cena into retirement with a decisive win in Cena’s last in-ring appearance.
To commemorate his dominant year, Gunther posted a video montage of his most significant moments from 2025. In the caption, he communicated his mindset succinctly, writing, “Results, not memories.” – Gunther, WWE Superstar.
Jonathan Coachman Weighs In on Gunther’s Charisma After Cena Victory
Following his success against John Cena, Gunther’s overall presence and character drew mixed responses. Jonathan Coachman, a familiar voice in the wrestling world, commented on the heat surrounding Gunther after his major victory. Coachman expressed views about the current direction of Gunther’s character in WWE, questioning whether the creative team had amplified him enough as a dominant heel, particularly after such a career-defining moment.
“I got so many reactions going, ‘Coach, you’re 100% right. Coach, Gunther walks out there and has no charisma.’ And right now all they’ve done with Gunther is have him laugh, make a t-shirt that I created because I said it here on this show. Tap like a dot dot dot. But in three weeks, it’s been December 13th. In three weeks, they’ve done nothing with Gunther as the killer heel that they needed him to be to piggyback off the John Cena stuff,”
– Jonathan Coachman, Behind The Turnbuckle Studios.
The debate about Gunther’s character continued as he returned to in-ring action for the first time since the John Cena retirement match, facing R-Truth on a recent episode of Monday Night RAW. This match was noteworthy as fans and observers closely watched Gunther’s next steps after such a milestone victory.
The Impact of Gunther’s Win and What Lies Ahead
Gunther’s triumph over John Cena not only marked the end of a legendary career but also positioned him at the pinnacle of WWE. With major wins against stars like Goldberg and Cena within the same year, Gunther has established himself as a central figure in the current WWE landscape. However, as figures such as Jonathan Coachman have noted, the development of Gunther’s character in the wake of these accomplishments remains an open question.
As the WWE Universe looks forward to 2026, both fans and insiders will be keeping an eye on how Gunther’s presence evolves, the next phase of his championship run, and how the John Cena retirement match will influence his legacy within the company.
