Gunther
While Punk has a chance actually to win his match in the WrestleMania Main Event and Orton has the opportunity to make history by surpassing Triple H’s WWE Title record, Gunther could end the dreams for those part-time legends by dethroning Rhodes at Clash in Italy. Gunther recently attacked Cody Rhodes on SmackDown, and it would be unwise for the match to be booked on Backlash this Saturday since they still have to build up a story.
Granted, they do have history, as this is a rematch from Crown Jewel 2024, and Rhodes did get the upper hand on Gunther in the Rumble back in 2023 by eliminating him last to punch his ticket to ‘Mania. Gunther can get his lick back and win his first WWE Title on European soil in Italy, where the fans would give him his well-deserved adulation.
Honorable Mention: Sami Zayn
While Gunther has been World Heavyweight Champion before and has never won the WWE Title, Sami Zayn has not won any world championships at all in his entire 13-year career in the WWE. Zayn is currently in a “double turn” U.S. Title program with Trick Williams, and his “gingerbread man” heel turn could lead him to a world title run.
Sami Zayn actually had a heated exchange with Cody Rhodes backstage one week after their Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match with Jacob Fatu that was interrupted by Drew McIntyre. Sami Zayn blamed Cody Rhodes for being the “golden boy” of the WWE. In that moment, Cody Rhodes retorted that Sami Zayn should be looking in the mirror and blaming himself for not capitalizing on the opportunities standing right in front of him.
Now that Zayn is a heel and no longer cares about doing noble deeds, he will capitalize on that opportunity to finally win the WWE Title. The Money In The Bank (MITB) Contract would actually be perfect for his new character development this year. Every time Zayn earned his shot at the WWE Title the right way, he failed to capitalize.
As consolation, the MITB Briefcase is the best opportunity for a heel to nefariously win the title and cunningly sneak his way to the top of the mountain. Sami Zayn actually went into business for himself and pushed to win the title against Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. Since Mania is in Saudi Arabia next year, Zayn could use MITB to cash in on the aforementioned babyface WWE Title match between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.
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