10 Wrestlers Who DOUBLED DOWN On Legendary Title Reigns
4. GUNTHER
GUNTHER was enjoying legendary championship reigns long before he reached WWE, but it wasn't until he stood as NXT United Kingdom Champion and Intercontinental Champion that these runs became luxurious.
As NXT United Kingdom Champion, the then-WALTER further embossed his stance as 'The Ring General'. He loomed over NXT UK in almost 'Tribal Chief'-esque fashion, defending the strap irregularly, and regularly having the match of the night. His bouts opposite Joe Coffey, A-Kid, and Ilja Dragunov showed him to be a multifaceted performer. For every chest-caving chop he slapped A-Kid with, he was flying across the ring, John Woo-style, opposite the bulkier members of the roster.
This symbol of GUNTHER's presentation carried over to the main roster with his stint as Intercontinental Champion, wearing the title as if it's the richest prize in pro wrestling. It should be regarded as such, but years of careless booking and holders viewing it as a stepping stone reduced it to a pile of mid-card sludge.
In GUNTHER's hands, though, the Intercontinental Championship is constantly providing the best match on WWE programming. Vs. Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER is a vastly different athlete than he is in bouts vs. Mustafa Ali and Ricochet, bringing the Intercontinental Championship back up to the levels of when Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat were battling over it.