From revenge quests to Attitude Era legends, who could be Gunther’s WrestleMania 42 opponent? | Opinion
His wrestling resume steadily growing after retiring John Cena and AJ Styles in back-to-back months, Gunther’s dominant streak has hit an abrupt halt since February.
He was not present for the past few episodes of Raw which has drawn concern from fans on what’s in store for him at WWE WrestleMania 42.
There were reports of him hoping to add Rey Mysterio to the list of star careers to end at his hands. However, Mysterio’s rib injury altered those plans.
Gunther has proven his spot among the top names of the WWE roster and it would be strange for him not to be part of WWE’s biggest shows of the year. So, let’s dive into a few fun potential opponents for the Ring General at The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Dragon Lee fulfills his revenge quest against Gunther
Dragon Lee remains one of the most compelling options based on his storyline with Gunther, In February, Gunther showed no remorse when he attacked Lee and refused to let go of a sleeper hold. Lee was left unconscious in the ring despite Adam Pearce swooping out security to control the situation.
At WrestleMania 42, the feud could come full circle if Lee stands up to Gunther and they battle it out in a rematch to settle the score once and for all.
Penta confronts Gunther and raises the stakes
If it’s not Lee, Intercontinental Champion Penta could face off against Gunther for what he did to his friend and ally instead.
While they have worked together on house shows, the two have never crossed paths on TV.
With Dominik Mysterio otherwise occupied with Finn Balor’s exit from the Judgment Day, a rematch between him and Penta for the IC Title at WrestleMania seems unlikely.
Penta could raise the stakes for a Gunther match by putting the Intercontinental title on the line against Gunther. After all, Gunther does hold the record as the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion for 666 days which could add a way to get to the match that makes sense.
Joe Hendry capitalizes on WrestleMania 41 momentum
After Kevin Owens was pulled from action due to serious neck surgery in April 2025, Randy Orton walked into WrestleMania 41 without knowing who would be his opponent.
Joe Hendry, then TNA World Champion, responded and got the shot against Orton, Despite the loss, the positive fan reaction helped his smooth transition to NXT.
Hendry became a viral star during his TNA tenure with this entrance song and the “Say his name and he appears” catchphrase of sorts. He competed on NXT since 2024 amid the brand’s crossover feud with TNA.
In November 2025, Hendry officially put pen to paper in a deal with WWE. After Oba Femi relinquished the NXT Championship for his move to the main roster, Hendry won a seven man ladder match in February to win the title.
Hendry could appear at WrestleMania 42 in a showdown against Gunther to sustain momentum from last year’s show, maybe in another mystery opponent presentation. This would also further sow the seeds for a potential main roster feud someday.
A “Stone Cold” Steve Austin standoff leads to Kevin Owens’ return
With Gunther targeting WWE legends to keep in line with his ‘career- iller’ persona, he could find himself standing opposite an icon from the Attitude Era, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Earlier this month, Austin commented on a potential WrestleMania 42 appearance, citing an interest in attending the event while hyping the current talent on the WWE roster.
If Gunther attempts a feud with Austin, Kevin Owens could step up and stand toe-to-toe with Gunther. The reports on his recovery suggest a return sometime this year after recovering from his neck surgery in 2025. He has also been spotted at the WWE Performance Center, signaling positive progress in his recovery.
Even if it doesn’t lead to a full-fledged in-ring return, an Owens appearance at WrestleMania 42 would elevate the moment. His alliance with Austin is solidified after their impromptu match at WrestleMania 38 with Owens using the Stunner as his signature move.
If Owens has time, he would also have ample opportunity to reunite with Sami Zayn who is navigating a tough time on SmackDown.
The Rock might have more than CM Punk to worry about
The Rock might already have his hands full with CM Punk following his remark about Sika Anoa’i. It further fuels their history from a little more than 12 years ago.
Roman Reigns gave each member of his family free rein to take revenge on Punk for his comments. This statement was made after The Usos’ interference which begs the question: which other Anoa’i Family member might step up next?
The Rock’s schedule around WrestleMania is uncertain in light of his movie filming and Hollywood commitments.
However, if The Rock shows up at WrestleMania 42, Gunther might be tempted to provoke him into a match. After all, Gunther has built his reputation around retiring greats and what better name to add to that list than The Rock?
Final thoughts
It is a tough call for WWE to make while considering a worthy opponent for Gunther especially with WrestleMania being the battlefield. Whether it’s a returning legend or an unexpected name from the current roster, the match has the potential to shape his next chapter in WWE.
Either way, WrestleMania 42 remains the perfect stage for Gunther to continue defining his legacy. Perhaps we’ll find out on Monday’s Raw from Madison Square Garden who might help him get there.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.