The “Knife Edge Chop” delivered by former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther has solidified its reputation as one of the most respected strikes in the professional wrestling industry. Even Cody Rhodes has heralded it as “the chop” of the business today. However, despite the popularity of the move and frequent requests from fans, Gunther maintains a rigid boundary when it comes to utilizing the strike outside of a competitive setting.
During a recent appearance on the What Do You Want To Talk About? podcast, Gunther sat down with Cody Rhodes to discuss the discipline behind his character. When the topic of fan interactions arose, the champion was blunt about his refusal to chop fans during media appearances or at independent wrestling events. For Gunther, the distinction between a trained athlete and a spectator is a matter of professional respect.
“I never do it. Because I am a professional. They are not,” Gunther stated. He further elaborated that performing the move as a gimmick or a party trick devalues the years of sacrifice required to master the sport.
The “Ring General” also took aim at a common practice on the independent circuit where wrestlers charge fans a fee to receive a chop. Gunther views this as a devaluation of the craft he has dedicated his life to perfecting. To him, the strike is an offensive weapon used in the pursuit of championship gold, not a commodity for sale.
“I think you’ve got to draw a line there,” Gunther added. “I’m not gonna bust my ass in training and all of that for so many years to learn it right, just to goof around with the fans afterwards. It just feels wrong”.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit What Do You Wanna Talk About? with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
