Gunther has made another significant achievement as the WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Since winning the title from Ricochet back in June 2022, the Ring General has had a dominant reign that included critically acclaimed defences against Sheamus at Clash at the Castle in September and in a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 39 that once again featured the Celtic Warrior but with Drew McIntyre added to the mix.
Now, the Austrian star has reached a new milestone as, on July 15th, he hit 400 days as Intercontinental Champion.
Gunther is already the third longest-reigning champion and fast approaching Randy Savage’s 414-day run with the title in the mid-1980s. If the champion survives until September 6th with the title, he will beat the Honky Tonk Man’s 454-day record which has stood since 1987.
Even if Gunther does smash that record, there are still other achievements to aim for, namely the total combined days as champion. If he passes 455 days with the title, he will have three men to overcome:
- Don Muraco, who reigned as champion for 541 days between two reigns;
- The Miz, who reigned as champion for 592 days between eight reigns; and
- Pedro Morales, who reigned as champion for 617 days between two reigns
In recent news, on August 7th Raw a new number one contender was set for Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship.
Wade Barrett praised Gunther for bringing prestige to Intercontinental Championship
SmackDown announcer Wade Barrett recently compared Gunther’s run with the Intercontinental Title to his own reigns in the 2010s. Barrett admits he sent the calibre of the championship “through the basement”, before jokingly thanking Gunther for making his own five reigns sound more “special.”
“So thankfully, prestige from Gunther, and when I tell people now, ‘Yeah, I’m a five-time Intercontinental Champion,’ they’re like, ‘Woah, woah, that Gunther guy, that makes it really special.’ So yeah, thank you, Gunther.”
In the latest of a long list of achievements, the leader of Imperium has made history in his home country of Austria.
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.