Every generation in WWE has always had its ultimate “bad guy”. While fans love to cheer the faces on the roster, the heels often earn the loudest reactions in the building. In the early 2000s, Triple H’s “Reign of Terror” was front and center. By the mid-to-late 2000s, Edge’s “Rated R Superstar” persona and Randy Orton as the “Legend Killer” took over.
Today, most notably, that mantle belongs to Roman Reigns. As “The Tribal Chief,” he has been the undisputed top villain since 2020, maintaining this position despite making only sporadic appearances since 2022. Recently, however, the lines between hero and villain have begun to blur.
Since that time, WWE has been searching for its next ultimate heel for fans to despise. If recent events are any indication, they may have found their next supervillain in Gunther. While Marvel has Thanos, who collects infinity stones, 2025 saw Gunther start to collect his own version of trophies with retiring wrestlers.
Monstrous Beginnings
Using the ring name WALTER, he burst onto the WWE scene in 2018, signing with the NXT UK brand. He quickly rose through the ranks, winning the NXT UK Championship less than six months later, and holds the record as the longest reigning title holder at 870 days.
In early 2022, he moved to the main NXT roster, adopting the name Gunther. He quickly transitioned to the WWE main roster three months later. Gunther began racking up an impressive number of accolades in short order: he won the Intercontinental Championship two months after his SmackDown debut, holding the title for 666 days, the longest in the title’s history.
He also holds the record for the longest time in a Royal Rumble match, remaining in the ring for 71 minutes and 40 seconds in the 2023 bout, and is a two-time World Heavyweight champion. To date, WWE has done a fantastic job of solidifying Gunther as a dominant powerhouse, known for his brutal chops to his opponents.
A Run of Dominance
Despite Gunther experiencing some down moments in 2025 (most notably tapping out to Jey Uso and losing the World Heavyweight Championship), he has also had some of the most iconic heel moments to date.
The March 31, 2025, Monday Night Raw episode highlighted Gunther at his “bad guy” best. During the lead-up to the match between Gunther and Jey Uso at WrestleMania 41, Gunther attacked the Usos, zip-tying Jey to the ring ropes, forcing him to watch while he levied a brutal beating on Jimmy, drawing blood.
The savage assault, however, was not what was remembered most. It was the images of Gunther, covered in Jimmy’s blood, wiping it all over himself and licking it from his fingers. Classic heel moment.
2025 also saw the building and cementing of Gunther as the “Career Killer.” Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12, 2025, saw Gunther face Goldberg, defeating him in the final match of his career by way of a sleeper hold.
Fans were also witnesses to perhaps his most memorable bout of the year, the repercussions of which still echo throughout the WWE universe, as he retired John Cena this past weekend by defeating him by submission.
The Future “Biggest” Bad
It only makes sense for WWE to promote Gunther into the role as the “biggest bad guy” currently in WWE. Rumors have been circulating about possible superstars nearing the end of their careers who could allow Gunther to capitalize and build momentum.
AJ Styles has already announced his retirement set for 2026, and this week’s Monday Night Raw saw an electric backstage scene with the two, when Gunther taunted Styles before driving off in a car. Seeds planted. Gunther should be at the top of the list as an opponent for any retiring superstar’s final bout.
Gunther has proven he can be just as despised during promos as he is during matches. His mic moments have become legendary, cutting down rivals such as Jey Uso, The Miz, and John Cena, with his cold and arrogant demeanor, demanding fans’ attention with the verbal assault of his opponent. He embraces and feeds on the boos from the crowd, as he said in a recent interview,
“I enjoy getting under people’s skin and riling them up. I’m not a very big people’s guy. I like to rile them up a little bit, and that’s when I thrive.”
Gunther’s rise has been building for years, but 2026 will be the year he truly defines himself as the perfect heel. With Cody Rhodes inheriting the crown as the top face of the company, Gunther has stepped from the shadows to become its new ultimate villain.
Heading into the new year, WWE has the perfect foundation to transform Gunther into the most hated heel the industry has seen in a generation. With Gunther’s legendary defeat of Cena now in the books, the “Ring General” enters the new year with more momentum and fan hatred than ever before. The era of the “Career Killer” has officially begun.
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