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Former WWE Heavyweight Champion Gunther choked announcers, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, on Raw after Wrestlemania 41.
Gunther attacked Michael Cole and Pat McAfee (WWE)
Former WWE Heavyweight Champion Gunther has been ‘indefinitely suspended’ by the company following a shocking incident. Appearing on the ringside at the Raw after Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas, Gunther completely lost his cool and berated announcers Michael Cole & Pat McAfee. Gunther physically assaulted the duo, choking Cole following a sleeper hold, before things turned worse when McAfee tried to help his colleague.
Finding Cole in trouble, McAfee punched Gunther’s face, which is when the powerful ex-heavyweight champion got angry and started choking McAfee with a sleeper. Gunther kept the hold on for nearly two minutes to put the announcer’s life at risk before help finally arrived for McAfee. The WWE has since taken disciplinary action against Gunther, suspending him for an indefinite period.
‘Good afternoon. By now, everybody has seen what happened on Monday between Gunther, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. First things first, Pat and Cole are okay. Pat is in Green Bay covering the NFL Draft and Cole’s doing what he always does – preparing for Monday Night Raw in a Hall of Fame way,’ said Adam Pearce, Raw’s General Manager, who confirmed in a statement that Gunther has also been fined an undisclosed sum.
‘As for you, Gunther, your actions were reprehensible and disgusting. You will never again put your hands on a member of my announce team because there ain’t no heat in beating up an announcer. You’re frustrated because you lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Jey Uso and I get that, but if you want to blame somebody, then park yourself in front of a mirror and ask the person staring back at you.’
‘After conferring with the representatives of all three men, Gunther has been fined an undisclosed amount and suspended indefinitely. Pat and Cole will be on RAW this Monday live in Kansas City, 8 Eastern, 5 Pacific on Netflix. Thank you for your time.’
Gunther held the WWE Heavyweight Championship for 258 days before he was defeated to the tag team match at WrestleMania 41 by Jey Uso. The Austrian had notably lost the match with his signature sleeper hold applied by Uso, giving the temperamental former champion a taste of his own medicine.
Amidst the controversy, Cory Hayes reported on Twitter that Gunther had requested WWE for a break, which is why the company did the angle to suspend him.
Gunther requested some time off which is why he has been suspended “indefinitely”— Cory (@Cory_Hays407) April 25, 2025
With no timeline set for his return, the Austrian wrestler is now looking at time off with his wife and young son.
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New York, United States of America (USA)
