Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
The Sacrifice of Being Record-Breaking WWE Superstar Gunther
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 9 months ago on
February 17, 2024

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

â– The WWE returns to the Save Mart Center in Fresno on Sunday at 7 p.m.

â– Record-breaking IC champ Gunther defends the title against Chad Gable.

â– Gunther talks about the sacrifice to be a WWE superstar.


The life of a pro wrestling icon means sacrifice.

A WWE star can be on the road most of the week, traveling coast-to-coast and internationally, all while keeping up with training and avoiding injuries.

For Intercontinental champion Gunther, a career training in Europe is finally paying off. Although the wrestling world talks about Roman Reign’s WWE world title reign  —  more than 1,200 days and counting — it is Gunther who has the longevity record.

When Gunther defends the Intercontinental belt in Fresno on Sunday, it will be his record 618th day as champion. The reign long eclipsed the Honky Tonk Man’s 453-day run from 1987 to 1988.

“That’s a great accomplishment. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. But as of right now, I’m still a champion, and I need to be focused on that. And I think once it’s all said and done, I can fully enjoy it,” Gunther said in an interview with Off the Bottom Rope.

The WWE returns to Fresno on Sunday evening at the Save Mart Center, opening bell at 7 p.m. Gunther defends in the semi-main event against Chad Gable.

Gunther, an Austrian native, guarantees the best match of the night.

“Every time I get in the ring with Chad, it’s a very special occasion. He’s a former Olympian (competing as Chad Betts), maybe one of the best athletes,” Gunther said. “It’s hard to catch up with him when it comes to speed and pace, and it’s always a challenge.”

Gunther finds time for workouts and brings his own food, while traveling on the road with his in-ring partner Ludvig Kaiser.

The main event in Fresno is Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a street fight.

Gunther wrestles in Fresno this Sunday. (WWE)

Watch Interview with Gunther

Life on the Road

The life of a WWE wrestler means being in a different city each night.

Gunther will leave his U.S.-based home in Orlando on Saturday morning to hit the road.

Saturday, the crew is in Oakland for a live show, before hitting Fresno, then a live “Monday Night Raw” in Anaheim on the USA Network. The crew heads next weekend for a “premier live event” (the fancy new term for pay-per-view) in Perth, Australia.

“We fly over and then arrive, go to the gym, go to the venue, do my match, and then get in the car again. And then we’re actually going to drive to Fresno and stay in a hotel there, and then wake up in the morning and repeat. That’s basically what it is. It’s a very tight schedule. But it’s the life of a wrestler. And that’s what I always wanted to do,” Gunther said.

Gunther recently became a father to a baby boy in December with his wife — former wrestler Jinny Sandhu. He said it is tough to be away from his family.

“That is the downside. And it’s just the price to pay, a little bit. But it’s also the things like my wife, Jinny, she used to wrestle before, so she knows the business. And I got a great backup there. And it’s always hard leaving a little one behind because I don’t want to miss anything. But on the other hand, I’m out there providing a great life for my family and, to sacrifice that you do now and then, the idea is that later on, you can live a life that nobody is able to live after you put the work in,” Gunther said.

Gunther on His Style

Gunther is known as “The Ring General,” with more of a ground-and-pound offense.

“It’s very down to earth, I would say, and very logical and very efficient,” Gunther said of his ring style. “I was never worried about what could I do to that is spectacular.”

While his style is mostly ground-based, Gunther will utilize a top-rope splash but will leave his feet for little else.

“I’m using a big splash off the top rope because I think it makes sense for me and I’m a heavy guy. But besides from that, I just always focused on doing the stuff that’s efficient and makes sense for me,” Gunther said.

Chops are a big part of a Gunther match. His chest and that of his opponent will quickly turn red, then black and blue. Gunther humbly said he has the best chops in wrestling, but credited Dominik Mysterio for throwing a tough chop as well.

Injuries are inevitable in a sport like wrestling. Gunther has torn his meniscus in the past. His pre-match routine includes plenty of calisthenics.

“I always used a lot of bodyweight movements, like regular pushups or body bodyweight squats, different pushup variations and stuff like that stretch your body as well. That keeps your body mobile. That’s something I but I trained in Japan early in my career,” Gunther said.

Gunther is the leader of the Imperium faction, which includes Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. The European trio storms to the ring with a no-nonsense style. But, Gunther rejects the notion there is a Cold War tinge to the heel group.

“When Kaiser and I started the character I have now, is the same I did back in Germany. It was more influenced by those old-school wrestlers back in Germany during tournament times,” Gunther said.

Gunther honed his skills in Germany and England before joining WWE in 2022. He remembers the days when a Vienna promoter limited ring wear to black trunks and black boots.

“Especially in a time where everybody tries to be flashy, tries to stand out with their outfits as with their in-ring style. I always thought it is a breath of fresh air to be the opposite,” Gunther said.

One of the rare moves Gunther performs off the top rope — a body splash. (WWE)

A WrestleMania Dream Deferred

WrestleMania XL is around the corner — April 6 and 7 in Philadelphia. WWE has not announced an opponent for Gunther yet, although recent TV storylines indicate it could be Jey Uso.

“People want to challenge me for the championship. And that’s just the mindset I have when it comes to that right now. I’m not really stressed about who am I going to face at WrestleMania,” Gunther said.

But, his WrestleMania dream match may never come to fruition.

“I always was vocal about my dream match in the past, but that fell through now. I don’t know if we’ll see Brock again if that’s ever going to happen. But I’m wide open when it comes to that as of now,” Gunther said.

That is Brock, as in Brock Lesnar, multiple-time WWE champ, ring dominator, and a major draw. However, Lesnar was indirectly implicated in a recent bombshell sexual harassment lawsuit against now-former WWE chairman Vince McMahon. The WWE swiftly cut ties with McMahon and Lesnar.

A Note About Reigns Reign

Technically, Reigns’ reign as WWE Universal champion — one of three “world” titles recognized by WWE — began in 2020. He is a dual champion, holding the WWE Championship — with a lineage dating to 1963 — since 2022. Seth Rollins is the other “world” title holder, awarded the newly-established World Heavyweight title last year.

A report earlier this week from WrestleTix indicated a near sellout of 7,300 tickets distributed (out of 8,182). The last trip to Fresno on Sept. 24, 2023, at the Save Mart Center, drew a reported 8,200 fans.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

A Kamala Harris Quiz for Election Day

DON'T MISS

A Donald Trump Quiz for Election Day

DON'T MISS

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

DON'T MISS

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

DON'T MISS

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

DON'T MISS

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

DON'T MISS

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

DON'T MISS

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

DON'T MISS

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

UP NEXT

At 91, Willie Nelson Has a New Album Out and a Cannabis Cookbook Coming

UP NEXT

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

UP NEXT

Beyoncé, Shaboozey and Post Malone Topped Country in 2024. How Will Grammys Respond?

UP NEXT

Weekend Lineup: Football Showdown, Rock Tributes, and Halloween Festivities

UP NEXT

Reynolds and McElhenney Expand Wrexham Empire, Acquire Historic Brewery

UP NEXT

Teri Garr, the Offbeat Comic Actor of ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Tootsie,’ Has Died

UP NEXT

Hallmark Faces Age Discrimination Lawsuit Over Alleged Casting Bias

UP NEXT

Who is Tony Hinchcliffe, Who Insulted Puerto Rico at Trump’s MSG Rally?

UP NEXT

6 Takeaways From Donald Trump’s 3-Hour Podcast With Joe Rogan

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

11 hours ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

12 hours ago

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

14 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

14 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

14 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

14 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

15 hours ago

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

15 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

15 hours ago

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

15 hours ago

A Kamala Harris Quiz for Election Day

Kamala Harris could make history by becoming the first woman elected president of the United States. What do you know about her? Test your k...

6 mins ago

6 mins ago

A Kamala Harris Quiz for Election Day

trump
16 mins ago

A Donald Trump Quiz for Election Day

A driver suspected of DUI crashed into a parked California Highway Patrol car at a fatal crash scene in Fresno County, sustaining minor injuries and later being cited. (Fresno County SO)
11 hours ago

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

fresno
11 hours ago

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

12 hours ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP/Ashley Landis)
14 hours ago

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

Voters cast their ballots at Desert Breeze Community Center in Las Vegas during the last day of in-person early voting in Nevada on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Nearly 75 million people have cast early ballots, making their voices heard amid worry about the process, the outcome and democracy itself. (Bridget Bennett/The New York Times)
14 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

14 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

Search

Send this to a friend