The Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship is one of the most prestigious titles in the sport. Iconic wrestlers like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Seth Rollins, and The Miz have had memorable reigns, making it the most iconic title on the show.
Nobody could have predicted how iconic The Ring General’s reign would become after he defeated Ricochet for the title over a year ago. He has since become the greatest and longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, surpassing The Honky Tonk Man’s record.
Gunther breaks The Honky Tonk Man’s record
Among the many iconic holders of the Intercontinental Championship, The Honky Tonk Man held the record for the longest-ever reign. In the 1980s, WWF needed a top-level heel who could maintain the mid-card title, especially with faces like Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior competing for the WWF Championship.
The Ring General, hailing from Austria, would go on to break The Honky Tonk Man’s record with his iconic reign, featuring many 5-star classics against wrestlers like Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Matt Riddle, and Chad Gable. Gunther was also one of the final two remaining wrestlers at the 2023 Royal Rumble, and WWE sees him as a top-level heel for the next few years.
GUNTHER has broken The Honky Tonk Man’s record and he now has the longest WWE Intercontinental Title reign in history. pic.twitter.com/P58g3ZGKDS
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) September 7, 2023
Gunther defeats Chad Gable at RAW
Chad Gable, who is regarded as the most underrated star in WWE, was the final hurdle standing between Gunther and the record. Their trilogy of matches over the past few weeks has been astonishing, and the WWE Universe is already calling it one of the best rivalries in recent history.
In the first match, Gable initially lasted only 5 minutes in a challenge from The Ring General. Then, in their second encounter, Gable defeated Gunther via count-out, marking Gunther’s first loss on the main roster. The trilogy concluded on the last episode of Monday Night Raw, and the match became an instant classic.
With Gable’s family cheering him on from the front row, he went toe-to-toe with the Austrian giant in a true David Vs. Goliath match but couldn’t cross the finish line. Even Gunther showed his respect with a nod of approval as he exited the arena. After RAW, Chad Gable promised the WWE Universe that he would be the one to take the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship off Gunther.
Gunther’s reign has been nothing short of iconic and will be remembered forever. He consistently delivered outstanding matches against any opponent he faced. With him now breaking the highly sought-after record, there’s no doubt that WWE is placing all their faith in him for the future.
