At WrestleMania 41, Jey Uso did the unthinkable to Gunther. He made him tap out to claim the World Heavyweight Championship for himself. By doing so, he ended the 258-day reign of the Ring General.
On the April 21, 2025 episode of Monday Night Raw, Gunther’s WrestleMania weekend got even worse. Enraged by his loss and commentary’s attitude towards the match, he confronted Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. The yelling quickly devolved into a personal attack, as he choked out Cole.
McAfee kicked him to break the hold, but got put in a chokehold as well. The following week, McAfee wanted to fight him that night.
However, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis proposed a match at Backlash, which was accepted by him. Even though the odds are majorly stacked against him, Pat McAfee could have a legitimate chance at beating Gunther at Backlash.
Pat McAfee’s In-Ring Career Speaks for Itself
The past couple of years have seen celebrities make their way into the ring and do pretty good for themselves. Bad Bunny, Johnny Knoxville, and Logan Paul have impressed WWE fans with their athletic ability and stamina. Instead of celebrities just being guest hosts or put in joke matches, they are taking it seriously and delivering highlight reel moments.
The same thing can be said for Pat McAfee. His second match ever was a WarGames match at NXT Takeover: WarGames in 2020. Even though his team lost, he showed that he had some wrestling talent.
Since then, he has beaten Austin Theory, Happy Corbin, and The Miz. Those weren’t some two-minute squash matches. He legitimately fought those men, showing how talented he actually is.
Given Pat McAfee’s prior work, Gunther might be underestimating his skill level and wrestling ability, which could allow him to get the surprise victory.
He is Motivated by the Attack on Himself
Whenever a wrestler gets attacked or put on the shelf for an extended period of time, they want to get back at the person who wronged them. Doing so ignites a fire in them, as they are determined to beat the aggressor.
That’s exactly why Pat McAfee is the fan favorite underdog in this match. He isn’t doing it just for himself. Rather, he’s doing it for his friends, family, and Michael Cole.
They want to see him avenge himself for what happened two weeks ago. If he doesn’t stand up for himself, Gunther will have free rein to do whatever he wants. Accepting the match sends a message that he or any other commentator isn’t going to stand being pushed around or disrespected.
He’s standing his ground to right a wrong. Pat McAfee’s motivation for the match could propel him to a win against Gunther.
Gunther Won’t Be Getting an Easy Victory
From Gunther’s point of view, he already has the win in the bag. Pat McAfee hasn’t wrestled a singles match in two years, and he has the size and experience advantage. However, he shouldn’t take McAfee lightly.
His promo last week shows how fired up he is not only for the match, but for the wrestling business. He isn’t treating everything as a joke. Instead, he has a legitimate love for wrestling that won’t be extinguished by Gunther.
His in-ring resume is very impressive, showing that he can go in the ring. He is also very motivated, as he had a real reason to accept the match.
Getting beaten down by Gunther could intimidate a regular celebrity. But he isn’t just a regular celebrity. Pat McAfee is someone who not only takes this business seriously but also has what it takes to beat Gunther at Backlash.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Pat McAfee, Gunther, 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).
