Lana Praises GUNTHER’s ‘Unlikable’ Heel Persona Following Cena Match
A WWE personality lauded GUNTHER’s villainous character work, particularly after his December 13th match against John Cena, despite the controversial finish that saw Cena submit.
Following a match that left many WWE fans divided, GUNTHER has earned the respect of at least one prominent figure within the organization: Lana. The former WWE Superstar shared her positive assessment of the Austrian wrestler during an appearance on TMZ Sports’ “Inside The Ring,” revealing she became a “massive fan” after witnessing his final confrontation with Cena at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Lana, known for her own impactful presence in WWE, placed GUNTHER in elite company, comparing him to a wrestler she considers the greatest heel in the sport’s history. “In my opinion, Rusev is the greatest heel, but GUNTHER is right there with him and of course I’m going to be a little biased,” she stated, as transcribed by Wrestling Inc.
The key to GUNTHER’s success, according to Lana, lies in his ability to genuinely evoke negative reactions from audiences. “You know, when you think about a heel and you’re like ‘Oh I don’t like that person. I just don’t like him.’ That is a good heel and that’s what GUNTHER was doing.”
Initially, Lana admitted that GUNTHER’s persona had not resonated with her. However, her perspective shifted after observing his match against Cena. She attributed her earlier reservations to GUNTHER’s deliberate avoidance of conventional “cool” or likable heel tactics.
“Sometimes instead of doing some fancy move, he’s just going to shove him and then like choke him out,” Lana explained. “We all understand that. You know, we all understand getting choked out. It’s not some crazy high-flying maneuver. I think he’s so good with that. He doesn’t try to be cool on social media. He doesn’t try to become popular. He rides that lane of being like, ‘I’m going to crush people’s souls. I’m going to crush their dreams.’”
Lana’s comments highlight the nuanced art of portraying a successful villain in professional wrestling, emphasizing that authenticity and a commitment to the character – even if it means forgoing popularity – can be more effective than flashy maneuvers.
