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WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble this year, but fans and critics unanimously hailed Gunther as the MVP of the epic 30-Man battle.
The Intercontinental Champion was the first superstar to enter the match and was eliminated last. Gunther lasted an hour and eleven minutes inside the ring, breaking the previous Royal Rumble record held by Rey Mysterio.
The Imperium leader dominated throughout the match, skillfully destroying everyone in his path. He was involved in several exciting battles with the likes of Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, and Braun Strowman, among others. But one of the best moments for Gunther was when he came face-to-face with Brock Lesnar.
The crowd erupted with pop as Lesnar and Gunther stood across from each other, exchanging taunts. The WWE Universe instantly fell in love with their interaction and labeled it a big money match.
After a grueling battle, Gunther and Cody Rhodes were the last two superstars left in the Rumble match. Instead of a quick elimination, we saw them lock horns in an intense match that ended with the Intercontinental Champion's elimination.
The American Nightmare scripted a fairytale victory at Royal Rumble, and Gunther played a huge role in making the moment more impactful. Fans believe the latter deserves to be a world champion based on his recent performances.
Here's how the WWE Universe reacted to Gunther's historic performance on the show:
Cody Rhodes wins Royal Rumble 2023 to mark an epic return
The American Nightmare entered the match at #30 but still had to fight through hell against Gunther to win the match. But a determined Cody Rhodes picked up a big win to mark the beginning of "Rhodes 2 Rumble".
During a press conference following the show, Cody Rhodes revealed that Triple H said he was proud of him. The American Nightmare admitted to taking digs at WWE in the past but insisted that it was all light-hearted. He is now prepared to 'finish the story' as he eyes the world title at WrestleMania.
