Gunther confronted by UFC Champion at WWE event; potential alliance teased
WWE and UFC made history today, just 400 days after merging under Endeavor to form TKO in another historic move. Gunther is no stranger to making history in the company, having had two legendary championship reigns. Officials booked the Austrian Superstar, along with other top talents, for today's viral moment.
RAW and SmackDown Superstars wrapped a four-night UK tour with tonight's non-televised live event at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. Gunther retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship over Chad Gable on all four nights, while Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship over Solo Sikoa in all four Steel Cage main events.
World Wrestling Entertainment and Ultimate Fighting Championship made history at tonight's event in Manchester, with three of their top champions in the ring at the same time. After the third match, The American Nightmare came out to a big pop, wearing a suit. Cody then introduced current Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall, who received a hometown ovation as he is from the Manchester area.
The Ring General ended up cutting them off, then hyped Crown Jewel before suggesting they take a photo as TKO's top champions. Amid the photo-op and Crown Jewel promo, Gable unfortunately interrupted. This led to Gunther retaining over the American Made leader, while Rhodes retained over Sikoa in the main event.
WWE President Nick Khan has previously teased future plans for "All-Star TKO Weekends," where one city would host SmackDown, a UFC PPV, and then a WWE PLE over the course of a weekend. Today's live event bonus is the latest example of what can happen when TKO combines the forces of the two brands.
Gunther wraps WWE tour with bold statement
Several main roster Superstars are currently traveling back to the United States after a four-night UK tour. World Wrestling Entertainment began the tour on Sunday in Cardiff, then ran Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday and Tuesday before wrapping up tonight in Manchester.
Gunther was booked to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Kofi Kingston on the tour, but Chad Gable replaced Kingston at the last minute. Gunther worked as a babyface and retained each night. The Austrian grappler took to Instagram to mark the end of the tour by declaring himself to be UK royalty.
"King of England," Gunther wrote with the photo below.
Gunther is set to face Cody Rhodes to crown the inaugural Crown Jewel Champion on November 2 in Saudi Arabia. The World Heavyweight Championship and the Undisputed Championship will not be on the line.
