WWE's Saturday Night Main Event Outcome: Gunther Safeguards World Championship Title
WWE's Saturday Night Main Event Outcome: Gunther Safeguards World Championship Title
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther triumphed over not one, but two of his fiercest adversaries during Saturday Night’s Main Event.
The electric atmosphere at Nassau Coliseum witnessed Gunther securing victories against Damian Priest and Finn Balor, retaining his title by dropping Balor with a monstrous powerbomb, culminating an electrifying, fast-paced three-way match that kept the audience hooked from start to finish. As a result, the trio involved in this thrilling bout are all heading divergent paths.
Despite Gunther's triumphant reign as Intercontinental Champion, his successful title defense at Saturday Night’s Main Event hasn't completely silenced criticisms regarding his recent storylines.
Rumors have it that Gunther, about to make his first switch to a babyface persona in his WWE career, hasn't managed to recreate the same charisma and enigma that made his historic Intercontinental title run so memorable. After losing the championship to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40, Gunther swiftly recovered with a win in the King of the Ring tournament and a world title defeat of Damian Priest at SummerSlam in August.
Unfortunately, the frequent lackluster rivalries as champion and emerging fragilities during his transition to a babyface role have left viewers questioning if Gunther is still a world champion or just a character in transition. A change in persona, in theory, could potentially work wonders for Gunther; however, his villainous role has been arguably the most effectively written character in WWE's short history.
Amidst concerns about their portrayal heading into 2025, there's a reason to keep an eye on Gunther's future storylines. Will he return to his previous form as the Intercontinental Champion or continue this more vulnerable, less confident persona we've noticed lately?
A move to SmackDown during the "transfer window" might reignite Gunther's powerful push, and with WWE expected to swap titles during this period, there's a chance that this could breathe new life into his victory at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which may not be sufficient to address his recent booking issues.
One of the reasons Gunther has plateaued is his continuous feud with Priest, who similarly transformed into a babyface and generated strong reactions but has been stuck in an endless loop of grudge matches with both Gunther and Balor. Though not fully tested yet, Priest was recently ousted from The Judgment Day, but he's still tightly tied to the group—this time as their relentless adversary.
In contrast, while Gunther's championship run has shown signs of fading, Priest's position as a borderline top star has left him struggling to surpass those who have crossed paths with him. With skilled competitors like CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Sami Zayn on Raw, along with potential shifts during the transfer window, Priest may have reached his zenith.
On the flip side, Balor is witnessing a significant rise in his career for the first time in years.
Traditionally serving as the secondary star in Judgment Day for the past couple of years, Balor is said to be in line for a powerful singles push in 2025. This is evident by his sudden entry into the world title scenario, and despite his loss on Saturday, this momentum could continue well into the following year.
Once a cherished babyface, Balor has resurrected his career as a heel, where he has thrived in The Judgment Day, and following Priest's departure, is drawing immense boos on Raw. Balor's rejuvenation is amazing to witness, and he finds himself in a stronger position on the roster than he has been in since 2016 when he captivated audiences as the inaugural Universal Champion.
As his fame continues to grow, even though Balor didn't win at SNME, his recent booking has been more enticing than both Priest and Gunther, who are observing a decline in their stardom despite their frequent main event appearances.
- Despite Finn Balor's loss at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, his rejuvenated career as a heel in The Judgment Day has been more captivating than both Gunther and Damian Priest, who have seen a decline in their stardom despite their frequent main event appearances.
- Gunther's successful title defense against Finn Balor and Damian Priest at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event was one of the highlights of his reign, but critics continue to question his recent storylines and the transition of his character.
- Welcoming a new era, Gunther will face off against Finn Balor and Damian Priest at the upcoming WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, as rumors swirl about a possible title change or even a switch to a babyface persona for the dominating Intercontinental Champion.