Gunther has been one of the strongest champions of the last two decades on WWE Smackdown with the Intercontinental Championship. Irrespective of his status, he is still waiting to learn who his opponent will be at WrestleMania 39. It appears that he will be able to learn that name, seven days from now.
Multiple WWE Smackdown Superstars will be participating in a qualifying match to get a shot at the Intercontinental Champion at the grandest stage of them. The buildup started with Drew McIntyre, who was the first to call out the champion for a match at Wrestlemania 39.
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This led Sheamus to come out on WWE Smackdown as he said this is personal and Drew knows how much he wants to hold the IC Title (This is the only title he couldn’t hold in his WWE career). Sheamus assumed that Drew went behind his back.
Drew said he didn’t need Sheamus’ permission in reply to which Sheamus said that Drew was just being a backstabbing ba**ard. Drew then reminded everybody that Sheamus had his opportunity and he lost, twice, last year including his mega title match against Gunther at Clash at the Castle in the United Kingdom.
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LA Knight came out followed by Kofi Kingston (with Xavier Woods), and Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) and all of them wanted a shot at the IC Title. A brawl broke out in the ring. Kross was the only man left standing in the end.
After this segment, it was announced that there will be a Fatal-5-Way Intercontinental Championship Qualifying Match between Kingston, Kross, Knight, Sheamus, and McIntyre, next week on WWE Smackdown. The winner of that match should go on to face Gunther for the IC Title at Wrestlemania 39.
Gunther had been a strong champion on WWE Smackdown
Gunther’s last successful title defense came against Madcap Moss on the February 17 episode of WWE Smackdown, where the Imperium leader powerbomb-ed his way to victory.
Gunther has held the Intercontinental Title since defeating Ricochet on the June 10 episode of WWE SmackDown. Overcoming opponents like Ricochet, Sheamus, and Braun Strowman, he’s held the championship longer than anyone else in the 21st century, toppling the earlier longest title reign of Shelton Benjamin.