4 WWE stars who could win the World Heavyweight Championship from Gunther in 2025

Gunther has proven to be one of WWE’s best in-ring talents in recent years. The Ring General captured the World Heavyweight Championship at last year’s SummerSlam PLE. This significant win solidified his status as one of the toughest and most compelling superstars in the Stamford-based promotion.

The reigning champion had several title defenses last year. He successfully fended off Finn Bálor, Sami Zayn, Randy Orton, and former champion Damian Priest. To that end, 2025 will be a busy year for Gunther, considering the number of superstars who are eyeing the gold strapped around his waist.

Here's a look at four WWE Superstars who could snag away the World Heavyweight Championship from The Ring General:

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#4. CM Punk

CM Punk returned to the Sports Entertainment juggernaut at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023. The Best in The World's return has indeed put both the promotion’s top stars and current champions on notice, and this includes current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.

After his match against Drew McIntyre at last year’s Bash in Berlin PLE, The Second City Saint expressed his interest in capturing the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk did the same thing after his match against Seth Rollins during RAW's season premiere on Netflix, as he called out both Gunther and reigning Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, stating that he was coming for their titles.

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#3. Seth Rollins

For those unaware, Seth Rollins was the inaugural WWE World Heavyweight Champion. During his reign, The Visionary defended his belt at every given opportunity, establishing himself as the promotion’s workhorse champion.

After his recent match against CM Punk, it might pique the interest of fans with the idea of The Architect setting his sights on Gunther and eventually challenging the Imperium leader for the World Heavyweight Championship. Rollins is a multi-time world champion, making him a formidable threat to The Ring General’s current reign, not to mention his impressive in-ring work.

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#2. A 17th world title for John Cena?

The 16-time World Champion, John Cena, is also another viable star who can take away the championship from Gunther. The entire Cenation was saddened when The Franchise Player announced at last year’s Money in the Bank that he would retire from in-ring duties following a 12-month Farewell Tour in 2025.

With that in mind, many believe that 2025 will be the year when Cena captures his record-breaking 17th world championship. However, The Greatest of All Time highlighted this past Monday on RAW that he does not see himself worthy of a world title shot at the moment due to his recent barren run in singles matches.

Later, Cena declared that he would work his way to the top, as the 47-year-old made it known that he would compete in this year’s Men's Royal Rumble Match. The Doctor of Thuganomics could win the gimmick match next month and later dethrone The Ring General at The Show of Shows in Las Vegas.

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#1. Ilja Dragunov vs. Gunther for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship could be explosive

Ilja Dragunov and Gunther (known as Walter at the time) had a couple of five-star matches during their NXT days. One of them was during NXT TakeOver 36 in August 2021, when The Mad Dragon ended The Ring General's 870-day reign as the brand’s UK Champion.

Given how well-received and intense their matches were, it is fitting for them to be pitted against each other, and this time for Gunther's World Heavyweight Championship.

Dragunov has established himself as an explosive competitor inside the squared circle, and his persona gels well with Gunther’s wrestling style. If these two superstars meet inside the ring again, fans can expect another epic showdown.

Dragunov is currently out of action due to an ACL injury he suffered during a match against the reigning world champion at a live event in September 2024. However, he is believed to return later this year. If he does, The Ring General should be holding onto his championship real tight since it is expected that The Mad Dragon will be out for revenge.