Why Gunther Changed His Mind About WrestleMania 41 Match
The WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther has changed his tune regarding his WrestleMania 41 match.
Jey Uso surprisingly won the WWE Royal Rumble and, after teasing the idea of challenging WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Jey ultimately chose Gunther as his WrestleMania 41 opponent. Since Jey made his Gunther choice on the February 10th edition of WWE Raw, that meant they had over two months to build to their WrestleMania 41 match on April 19 or April 20.
Following Jey’s Royal Rumble win and decision to face the World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther made it clear he didn’t want to face Jey again since he already beaten him at Saturday Night’s Main Event in January and past matches. Those comments could have been in storyline, but they also made sense from the champion’s perspective.
On the main March 31st WWE Raw, Gunther beat up and bloodied Jey’s twin brother Jimmy Uso while Jey was tied to the ropes. Jey followed up with an intense promo on WWE Raw in Minneapolis, where he told Gunther that Jey isn’t afraid anymore because Jey had to get payback for his family.
During an interview with Ariel Helwani on the Ariel Helwani Show, Gunther was asked if he liked his rivalry with Jey Uso going into WrestleMania 41.
“I am, yes, especially the last two weeks were very important.”
When Helwani mentioned that the champion hesitated a bit, the powerful Austrian explained his viewpoint further.
“I am happy, but it was a challenge because it was like a ten week build. To really find something that excites you for ten weeks in a row is hard, especially with all the other stuff going on. I think we managed it very well.
The last two weeks, we got it on route to where it’s supposed to be. It’s always a little like, what I want myself, what I see as the best idea, it doesn’t always happen. It’s not the nature of how the business works, and then you have to be mature enough to realize it’s not every week.
There is always a better idea for something and at the end of the day, it’s not about my personal taste and what I would like. It’s about what’s best for the product at this point overall. In that regard, I think we managed it very well and going into Mania we’ve set the tone very well.”
Was Gunther Happy About Jey Uso Winning The Royal Rumble?
The World Champion Gunther admitted that he was surprised by Jey Uso winning the Men’s Royal Rumble, but he’s happy about it now.
“Yes, I was (surprised) actually. At the end with Cena, but looking back at it, Cena is on his last run and that’s how you want to use him. Put him in the ring with somebody that is on his way up or is red hot in the moment.
I was surprised. I didn’t think Jey would be my ideal opponent for WrestleMania because we are very different, but rethinking, it makes a lot of sense.
In WWE right now, I’m the perfect counterpart to everybody who is on his way up and red hot and wants to achieve a certain something. I’m a good party pooper when it comes to that. At the end, I was happy he won. He deserved it. I’m glad we started a program now.”
Even though the Gunther-Jey Uso match is for the World Heavyweight Title, the champion isn’t upset about other matches main eventing WrestleMania 41 because he’ll still be happy about what he’s done in his career.