'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQL/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMYkN//EACEQAAIBAwMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwAEMQUREyIzUpGh/9oACAEBAAE/AIreLhltXZhJdRLIhCKR0uM4Pl8oaG23dX0a/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQD/2gAIAQIBAT8AG//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEA/9oACAEDAQE/AEv/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former WWE manager Dutch Mantell recently spoke about how CM Punk's return has affected a current champion's run in the Stamford-based promotion. That champion would be Gunther.
The Best in the World returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames last year. Since then, CM Punk signed up to be an exclusive member of Monday Night RAW. After a confrontation with Seth Rollins, he announced that he would participate in this year's Men's Royal Rumble Match. In fact, The Straight Edge Superstar is one of the big favorites to win the high-profile matchup this year.
While speaking on the latest episode of Sportskeeda Wrestling's SmackTalk podcast, former WWE manager Dutch Mantell felt that The Ring General was a dark horse for the Stamford-based company.
"Where is Gunther in all of this? I think that's the jewel they have sitting over there," Dutch Mantell said. [25:14 - 25:19]
Mantell agreed that WWE's plans for Gunther may have been pushed back a year because of CM Punk's return. However, the wrestling veteran claimed that he wanted to see the current Intercontinental Champion go up against Roman Reigns at some point.
"The later they wait, if you fail, you at least get a year out of it. But he's (Gunther) not gonna fail. If he goes through a year, he'll stay over because he has that vibe about him, and I would actually love to see Gunther vs. Roman," Dutch Mantell said. [25:49 - 26:05]
You can watch the full podcast below:
Gunther has not been present on RAW for the last couple of weeks. In his absence, Ludwig Kaiser tore the house down and took out Kofi Kingston this Monday on RAW after Kofi injured Giovanni Vinci the week prior.
It will be interesting to see how Gunther responds in the coming weeks leading up to the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.
Who is your pick to win the 2024 Men's Royal Rumble Match? Let us know in the comments section below.
You can catch the full results of SmackDown here.
If you use the quotes from this article, please embed the exclusive YouTube video and add an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.
