WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has named Gunther as the logical next opponent for Brock Lesnar, proposing an angle that would position Gunther as a returning hero. The suggestion, made on the Busted Open podcast, follows Lesnar’s decisive victory over John Cena at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.
According to Bully Ray, Lesnar’s systematic destruction of Cena was a deliberate booking decision designed to rebuild him into an unstoppable force, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation. “[Brock] Says there is nobody out there who can do anything about it, and then Gunther’s music hits, and that’s why John Cena let Brock destroy him because that’s starting to propel Brock to where we need him to be, so Gunther can be the hero coming back,” Ray said.
Lesnar’s match in Indianapolis, which was his first in two years, saw him defeat Cena with six F-5s and a post-match assault. This return is reportedly part of a larger, long-term creative strategy to re-establish Lesnar’s kayfabe dominance before he is eventually used to elevate a younger talent.
While Bully Ray advocates for Gunther, reports have identified other potential candidates for this role, including Jacob Fatu, Bron Breakker, and Cody Rhodes. The overarching plan reportedly involves Lesnar taking a hiatus from television before returning for major programs at the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 42 in 2026.
Ray affirmed his belief that Lesnar’s actions are always calculated to serve a larger narrative purpose, intended to benefit another performer in the long term. “Brock does everything for a reason, and I believe this next reason will be for Gunther,” he stated. “Brock knows that he can’t — he’s not gonna stick around forever. Brock is going to want to come back when the time is right and do certain things where he can make his money and somebody can benefit from it in the long run.”