The Seth Rollins vs. Gunther match at WrestleMania 42 was the result of a late pivot forced by multiple injuries, with Dave Meltzer reporting in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the decision to pair the two was made either right before or right after Elimination Chamber following Bronson Reed’s torn biceps.
According to Meltzer, Rollins had originally been on a path toward facing either Reed or Logan Paul at WrestleMania. The direction toward Paul appeared to be crystallizing at Elimination Chamber, where Rollins cost Paul the match in a moment that seemed to set up their clash. However, Reed’s torn biceps forced WWE’s hand and prompted a new direction entirely.
“The plan was for Rollins to face either Bronson Reed or Logan Paul, after Breakker was injured,” Meltzer wrote. “At Elimination Chamber, with Rollins costing Paul the match, that appeared to be the direction. But we were told the Gunther decision was either right before or right after Chamber, a decision made when Reed went down with the torn biceps.”
Gunther’s original WrestleMania direction was also shaped by injury. Meltzer reports that a match with Rey Mysterio had been discussed for The Ring General, but those conversations were not active in the weeks leading into the show.
“Gunther was most likely to have faced Rey Mysterio,” Meltzer wrote. “We were told that was discussed, but not in the past several weeks. Mysterio was also injured.” WWE opted to have Gunther in the spot because they don’t want to rush into Breakker vs. Rollins.
The domino effect of Reed and Mysterio both going down created the opening for the Rollins versus Gunther match that was ultimately made official following Gunther’s attack on Rollins during the March 30 Raw at Madison Square Garden. WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
