The Alpha Academy’s main job is to make people laugh while putting people over. Maxxine Dupri and Otis have been doing that for months, but Akira Tozawa has been the funny guy for years. However, if there’s one person who is always serious, it’s Gunther.
On the February 24, 2025 episode of Monday Night Raw, Gunther chose Tozawa to be his opponent. He noticed that they have a lot in common, including sacrificing everything to join WWE. However, he noticed Tozawa dancing and acting silly, which made him mad.
He reminded him that he used to be serious, something that hasn’t really been seen in a WWE ring. Gunther quickly disposed of him, making their battle short.
However, Tozawa may have been reminded of when he was actually a threat in the ring. Will Gunther’s words bring Tozawa back to being a serious wrestler?
Akira Tozawa is WWE’s Resident Comedy Jobber
Whenever a wrestler gets a comedy gimmick, things aren’t looking good for them. Over the years, there have been dancing Tensai, dancing Shanky, Madcap Moss, among others. After a few months, they get taken off television and released.
However, Tozawa has been in that position for years. Even though he doesn’t win much, he’s still over with the crowd. His brand of physical comedy and facial expressions have made him popular.
His various runs with the 24/7 Championship brought multiple funny moments, including several with R-Truth. When he joined the Alpha Academy, WWE kept that side of him. He got his dancing stretch over with not only the audience but the wrestlers as well.
Usually, comedy jobbers make you groan after a while, as they get repetitive. But Akira Tozawa always comes up with something new that’s funnier than what he did the last time he was on screen.
Akira Tozawa Has Not Always Been the Comedy Guy
The people who’ve watched Tozawa in Japan and on the independent circuit know he is capable of being a legitimate threat in the ring. A twelve-year run in Dragon Gate, along with matches in companies like PWG and Chikara, brought him great success.
He won many championships in Dragon Gate and had impressive showings against wrestlers like PAC and Johnny Gargano. Even in the Cruiserweight Classic and 205 Live days when he was just starting in WWE, he was serious. Gunther, like many fans, wants to see that Tozawa inside of a wrestling ring again.
There’s no question that he has that fiery spirit inside, as it brought him success in his early career. Akira Tozawa has the potential to become a serious wrestler again, thanks to Gunther’s words. Now we have to see if he’ll take his advice.
What Will Tozawa Choose to Do?
It’s no secret that Akira Tozawa is very over right now. His funny antics and character work have gotten rave reviews. There’s a reason the company has kept him all these years.
However, Gunther does have a point in his words. There was a time when Tozawa was a championship-winning, fearsome wrestler. Now, he is reduced to dancing and making faces.
For many fans, that is all they’ve ever known. But if you go back and watch videos from years ago, you’ll see a very different side of him. Having him make a serious run in the near future could make people appreciate him even more.
Gunther isn’t trying to belittle him. He’s trying to say that he could be more than a comedy guy. Akira Tozawa can get even more fans by embracing his serious side that helped launch his career to begin with.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Akira Tozawa, Gunther, WWE Raw and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
You can check out WWE programming on Netflix (Raw), USA Network (SmackDown), The CW (NXT), Tubi (WWE Evolve), A&E (WWE Superstar Sunday – Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments) and Peacock (WWE Main Event as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on YouTube, and catch fast-paced action on X (WWE Speed).
