The discussion of WWE’s Eras becomes more muddled as we move into more recent years. Many agree on the name of the era we are currently in, but the question of when it started remains open. To maintain continuity, WWE’s wave of change that began the Renaissance Era will start with WrestleMania 38.
We have been very blessed to be living in this current WWE era. The product has never been better, and a huge mitigating factor is the volume of heels. The Renaissance Era has contained some of the greatest heels to ever step into a WWE ring. They have helped to shape the direction of WWE and have rivaled the babyfaces in popularity. They are the heels that we love to hate, and the ones who we pay to see destroyed: heels that will always be remembered, and ones listed below.
Gunther
Whether it be in NXT United Kingdom, NXT, or on the main WWE roster, Gunther has been as dominant a heel as one could be. While touring the NXT brands, he was known as a no-nonsense wrestler who wasn’t fancy. He would hit you as hard as he could, and you tried to survive the consistent onslaught.
On the main roster, Gunther took these great qualities and amplified them to become one of the greatest heels of an era. He was exactly as advertised with his Ring General gimmick. His methodical dismantling of every babyface on the roster made him both hated and feared. Gunther would pick apart everyone in his path, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.
He was just that much better than everyone. His championship reigns put him in the record books, as he could back up all of his arrogant talk. Gunther is the heel that all others aspire to be.
