“The Ring General” Gunther continued his path of dominance through the WWE roster on Saturday night, delivering a message to the locker room following a victory in Tampa, Florida. Competing at the WWE Holiday Tour event at the Amalie Arena, Gunther faced off against Je’Von Evans. While Evans put up a fight, the size and experience difference ultimately proved too much to overcome. Gunther secured the victory, adding another name to his list of conquered opponents.
Following the match, Gunther took a moment to address his victory and his current mindset. In an interview released by WWE, the former World Heavyweight Champion made it clear that his goal is no longer just to win, but to break the spirits of those who step in the ring with him.
“It’s my profession now: make people give up,” Gunther said. “This little punk right there thinks he’s something special, the only one special here is me.”
The match in Tampa was part of a loaded card that also featured the in-ring return of Liv Morgan, who defeated Lyra Valkyria in her first match since June. The show also saw Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia get involved in the action, helping Rey Mysterio defeat Grayson Waller, as well as World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk retaining his title against Bronson Reed in the main event.
As the calendar turns to 2026, Gunther remains one of the odds-on favorites to make a major impact at the upcoming Royal Rumble event. The Royal Rumble is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 31, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
.@Gunther_AUT LOVES making people give up 😤 #WWETampa pic.twitter.com/asEKVFkkRp
— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2025
