GUNTHER vs Shinsuke Nakamura Has Elevated The Intercontinental Championship To Main Event Level

Hamish Woodward

GUNTHER vs Shinsuke Nakamura battled on Smackdown to raise the prestige of the Intercontinental Championship

GUNTHER vs Shinsuke Nakamura was the main event of Smackdown this week and it was a match much hyped by fans. Two of WWE’s biggest stars from outside the US battled in an incredible belt for WWE’s historic Intercontinental Championship.

In a battle which pushed both men to their limits, GUNTHER put away the King of Strong Style with a brutal powerbomb to retain his championship and, with Roman Reigns continued absence on SmackDown and place himself as the top champion on Smackdown.

The match did not only entertain the fans, but it put over both men as warriors who could take as much as they could in the ring. GUNTHER came to the WWE to face, and beat, the best in-ring warriors that he could, and he has continued to prove that with the latest in his long line of victims being Shinsuke Nakamura.

A Top WWE Star Praised The Match Between The Two Stars

Many fans and wrestlers alike have praised the epic encounter between GUNTHER and Shinsuke Nakamura. Fans have praised the match online and called it one of the best Smackdown matches of the year.

It appears one former WWE Champion agrees, as Seth Rollins tweeted about the match after Smackdown. The WWE Star posted his praise for the match after it was done, letting his fans know that “Gunther vs Shin Rocked”.

GUNTHER Has been a top wrestler in WWE for years and held the United Kingdom Championship in an incredible two year reign which is among the greatest reigns of all time. His current run as the WWE Intercontinental Champion as been one of the best in years since Triple H took over as the head of creative. He continues to elevate the championship into the strongest it has been in years.

GUNTHER vs Nakamura Helped Elevate The Intercontinental Championship

GUNTHER vs Shinsuke Nakamura was clearly used to elevate the Intercontinental Championship as the “working man’s” Championship, a line oft used by Pat McAfee on Friday Night Smackdown. The former NFL player turned commentator name dropped a number of former Intercontinental champions to make the championship seem like a coveted prize to win, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Mr Perfect and Shawn Michaels.

Putting GUNTHER on the same level of those legends of the ring does a lot to build the perception of the Ring General as being a huge deal has done wonders. It has helped fans forget the disastrous call-up when WWE changed his name from WALTER to GUNTHER, and originally wanted to name him after the infamous Nazi Gunther Stark.

GUNTHER vs Nakamura was another instance of him being booked to perfection. The Austrian looked dominant again in his victory over the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, withstanding all the brutal submissions Nakamura put forward and using his raw power to battle out of them.

He is truly a working champion and Shinsuke Nakamura made GUNTHER work for it. Having two huge stars, with Nakamura being a former Royal Rumble winner, battling for the “mid-card” championship elevates it to levels that has not been seen for years.

With more of these incredible battles on Smackdown, the championship can be seen as on the same level as Roman Reign’s WWE Championship. GUNTHER is just the man to bring it to the main event level and would even be capable to be the man to defeat Roman Reigns to end his legendary run, and match The Ultimate Warrior and both WWE Champion and Intercontinental Champion.

Who Will GUNTHER Wrestle At WWE Clash At The Castle?

wwe clash at the castle poster
The New WWE Clash At The Castle Poster Has Been Revealed After Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar at Summerslam

GUNTHER is rumoured to be facing Finn Balor at Clash at the Castle in a dream match that fans have been wishing for in WWE for years. The former Universal Champion is currently locked in a feud with Edge as part of his stable Judgement Day, but could target GUNTHER’s intercontinental championship in his bid got Championship gold. However, with Balor on Raw this match could have to wait for a WWE draft to take place.

Other potential opponents for GUNTHER at Clash at the Castle could other Smackdown stars like Shinsuke Nakamura, Kofi Kingston or Sheamus. Sheamus would make the most sense, giving that the Irishmen would be cheered so close to his home country of Ireland whilst in Wales, and the pair would put on a hard hitting match that fans would love to see in Cardiff.

Who do you think GUNTHER will wrestle at WWE Clash at the Castle in Cardiff? Let us know in the comments or click below to read more.

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