WWE Just Showed Us How Gunther Can Be Their Next Big Babyface

After losing the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41, WWE had a difficult job to do when it came to maintaining Gunther’s aura as a top star. A match against Pat McAfee went some way towards keeping the Austrian busy while also making him look dominant again inside the ring.

As Gunther prepares to challenge Jey Uso once again for the world title, WWE has hinted at a new direction for ‘Der Ring General’ that he has never explored before. Positioning him opposite Logan Paul immediately portrayed Gunther in a different light, allowing fans to think of him as a more honorable figure for the first time.

Gunther Will Turn Into A Babyface Soon

‘Der Ring General’ Has Already Begun To Show More Respect

• Gunther has performed as a heel throughout the entirety of his WWE career, including his time in NXT.
• The former Walter has done well to add more layers to his character during his time on the main roster.
• A face turn could be facilitated for Gunther if he continues to target ‘non-wrestlers’ like Logan Paul.

The prospect of turning Gunther face is not something many have thought about, in large part due to how good he is as a heel performer. Since arriving on the main roster, the former Walter has developed his character to a surprisingly effective degree alongside a physical transformation that has allowed him to be an ever-present champion.

Gunther is an amazing champion, but at some point, he must find other ways to remain part of WWE’s plans. He has certainly demonstrated an ability to do this as a heel, but as a babyface it is uncharted territory for him. This is why WWE might be hinting towards this development in recent weeks, as Gunther has shown flashes of positive character growth for the first time.

His match against Pat McAfee was primarily designed to re-establish him as a monster, but his handshake that followed was indicative of a new side to Gunther. The longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion followed this up during his promo exchange with Logan Paul on Raw, where he cut a more respectful figure about how he sees the wrestling business.

Positioning Gunther as a true wrestler against ‘non-wrestlers’ would be an efficient way to accentuate his character’s beliefs positively. Instead of looking down on everyone on the roster, he can target those who are deserving of his disdain, which will ultimately get the fans behind him.

Jey Uso Will Defeat Gunther Once Again

Another Loss May Be The Catalyst For Gunther’s Reinvention

• The winner of Logan Paul versus Jey Uso will face Gunther for the World Heavyweight title on Raw in June.
• The likely outcome will see the current World Champion defeat ‘Der Ring General’ for a second time.
• Another big loss for Gunther could be the catalyst needed for a full-fledged face turn.

Unfortunately, a Gunther face turn down the line probably means that he will have to lose against Jey Uso once more. Assuming that the World Champion defeats Logan Paul at Saturday Night’s Maine Event, a WrestleMania 41 rematch will take place on Raw at the start of June.

Losing another high-profile title match may spell the end of Gunther’s long stint as a heel, as some changes will be necessary for his character to continue to thrive. With WWE already setting the groundwork for a potential Gunther face turn, it seems likely that the Austrian will lose to his rival once more.

This will be uncharted territory for one of the best wrestlers on the planet, as losing has not been pervasive throughout his career. WWE has done a good job keeping Gunther on such a dominant streak, but at some point, this has to come to an end if he is to have longevity within the company.

WWE Should Turn Gunther Soon

WWE Is Inundated With Top Heel Performers

• It would undoubtedly be a risk from WWE’s perspective to turn Gunther face, as he has never done it before.
• Now would be the perfect time to do so, as the promotion has a wealth of heel talent on its roster.
• A teased match against Goldberg may be the only thing keeping Gunther from being a face in WWE just now.

It would certainly be a risk for WWE to turn Gunther, of all people, face, but now might be the perfect time to do it. The promotion is inundated with top heel figures right now, with John Cena and Seth Rollins having joined the ranks in recent months. Meanwhile, WWE is still attempting to promote heel factions in prominent positions, with Judgment Day and The Bloodline ongoing.

WWE may feel more confident in allowing one of its top heel figures of the last few years to try something new, especially since he has found himself in a more vulnerable position than ever before. Gunther will no doubt succeed in any new role given to him, just as he has done before throughout his stellar career.

It is hard to see exactly when Gunther will enact some character changes, as there still may be a big Goldberg match down the line that he would have to remain a heel for. Nonetheless, WWE has created a template for him to find success as a face opposite figures like Logan Paul, who does not deserve his respect as an all-time great wrestler.