2024 is here, but what has not changed in the new year is the dominant reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion by GUNTHER, who had a heck of a run in 2023.
Since his arrival in WWE, he has found success whether that be in NXT, NXT UK, and the main roster. As the NXT UK Champion, he held the title for 871 days after winning it at NXT TakeOver: New York in 2019. He eventually lost the championship to Ilja Dragunov at NXT TakeOver 36 in 2021. GUNTHER was promoted to the main roster in 2022.
GUNTHER became the Intercontinental Champion by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura in June 2022. He successfully defended the title at WrestleMania 39 in a triple threat match against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. He has since defended it against the likes of Xavier Woods, Mustafa Ali, Bronson Reed, Tommaso Ciampa, Chad Gable, and The Miz.
He has already surpassed the Honky Tonk Man’s record of 454 days, the record for the longest-reigning champion of all time. Now, he has a new milestone.
GUNTHER joins the likes of Pedro Morales, Ultimate Warrior, Razor Ramon, and Jeff Hardy to start and end a year as the IC Champion.
Years that started & ended with the same Superstar as @WWE IC Champion:
– 1981: Pedro Morales
– 1982: Pedro Morales*
– 1989: Ultimate Warrior
– 1994: Razor Ramon
– 1995: Razor Ramon
– 2007: Jeff Hardy
– 2023: @Gunther_AUT**the same, uninterrupted reign began & ended the year.
— Wrestling Stats & Info (@WWEStats) December 29, 2023
