Gunther, known as The Ring General, recently made a pointed remark about Cody Rhodes’ role in WWE during an interview. As a dominant heel recognized for his strong reign as both Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther has carved out a reputation through his aggressive style and his notorious Career Killer persona, which saw him retire iconic wrestlers like Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles.
The Austrian powerhouse shared his thoughts about his future in WWE and the kind of wrestler he aims to be, while taking a subtle jab at Rhodes’ approach to being a top star. The discussion took place on the latest episode of What Do You Wanna Talk About? With Cody Rhodes, where Gunther analyzed his career trajectory and the role he envisions for himself moving forward.
Gunther’s Vision: Elevating Talent Through High-Quality Matches
During the conversation, Gunther expressed his goal to reach a prominent position in WWE where he can wrestle some of the most promising talents and deliver memorable performances, rather than just being the “mountaintop” figure everyone looks up to. He said,
“Where I wanna get to is to be able to get into that spot, but then wrestle Ilja in that position. And have great matches with Bron down the line in that position. Have great matches with Oba. There’s many more of them. I feel like that’s what I wanna get to. I wanna be the guy that’s gonna be able to wrestle all of them, have great matches with all of them, and contribute that way.That’s why I like my role and how I do it. I don’t have it in me to be wanting to be the guy that is at the very mountaintop, and everybody looks up to him.”
Gunther’s comments highlight his preference to be a central figure who raises the profile of emerging wrestlers through tough, compelling matches rather than dominating the spotlight solely for himself. This position contrasts with some of the more traditional top-tier roles in WWE.
Contrasting Approaches: Gunther’s Subtle Critique of Rhodes
While Gunther respects Cody Rhodes’ ability to interact with fans and handle the media, he acknowledges that such a role does not suit him personally. He admires Rhodes’ skills but clearly positions himself differently within the company. Gunther stated,
“I admire you sometimes for what you do, because I couldn’t. I would not be able to have that much fan interaction, to have that much media interaction, and all of that. And you do it really good. That’s not for me. I wanna be at the top, but in a different role and contribute that way.”
This statement signals Gunther’s conscious decision to distance himself from the excessive spotlight and fan exposure that Rhodes embraces, favoring a role focused more on in-ring competition and elevating others.
Current Feud and Ongoing Impact in WWE
Gunther’s recent activities continue to fuel his intense WWE storyline, especially his surprising unmasking of Dragon Lee on Monday Night RAW. This development has heightened his feud with Lee and reinforced Gunther’s reputation as a ruthless competitor willing to push boundaries.
As The Ring General solidifies his position in WWE, his approach challenges traditional concepts of stardom, offering an alternative path that emphasizes match quality and support for rising talent over direct fan engagement and media presence.
