WWE is reportedly planning a WrestleMania duel between Austrian phenom Gunther and Brock Lesnar – which is now in question for spicy reasons.
The relationship between Brock Lesnar and WWE is on hold indefinitely due to unfavorable involvement in the scandal allegations against ousted ex-boss Vince McMahon – does that mean Austrian phenom Gunther?
As the well-known wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer reports in his Wrestling Observer Radio, Gunther was actually the planned opponent for Lesnar at the annual highlight WrestleMania 40 in April. This would have been the biggest match in the increasingly successful career of the heavyweight from Vienna at the Super Bowl Stadium in Philadelphia. Now it is uncertain whether it will take place or whether it has been canceled like the World Title match between Seth Rollins and the injured CM Punk.
WWE: Lesnar vs. Gunther rumored to have been WrestleMania plan
Lesnar was reportedly supposed to be part of the Royal Rumble match on Saturday. However, WWE removed him from the card after Lesnar’s name surfaced in connection with ex-employee Janel Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon and WWE: McMahon allegedly promised Lesnar Grant’s sexual services in exchange for a contract extension and sent pornographic material of her to his longtime top star.
According to Meltzer, Lesnar’s replacement – up-and-coming legend Bron Breakker – was given the same script as Lesnar 1:1. He eliminated the stars Lesnar should have eliminated and then was also thrown out by the man who should have thrown Lesnar out: Dominik Mysterio.
Lesnar was supposed to face the son of legend Rey Mysterio on February 24 at No Escape (Elimination Chamber) in Perth, Australia. At WrestleMania, a duel against Gunther would then have been planned, presumably for the Intercontinental Title, which Gunther has held in a historically long reign for almost 600 days now – on the TV show RAW he defended it against former WWE champ Kofi Kingston.
WWE had already hinted at a future match against former UFC heavyweight champ Lesnar when the two met in the 2023 Rumble match. The duel – ten years after Lesnar’s historic WrestleMania victory over The Undertaker – would have been an accolade for Gunther, who was declared highly respected by WWE ruler “Triple H” Paul Levesque.