Backstage Talks on Next Week’s Gauntlet Match – As noted, it was revealed during last night’s RAW that a Gauntlet match will determine the challenger for Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER at WrestleMania. While six names were announced for the match, there seemed to be a change in plans as two other wrestlers were initially teased but later pulled from the lineup.
Last week, R-Truth and The Miz were hinted at as potential challengers for GUNTHER. However, on the recent episode of RAW, they were conspicuously absent from the Gauntlet match announcement. Instead, the lineup featured Ricochet, Chad Gable, Sami Zayn, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, and JD McDonagh.
Dave Meltzer discussed this development on Wrestling Observer Radio, suggesting that WWE might have changed course to include wrestlers they perceive as stronger in-ring performers. He noted that the final lineup included Ricochet, who has been absent for some time, and JD McDonagh, who seemingly came out of nowhere.
“I think the deal must have been that they were gonna go with them and then they just decided, whatever they’re gonna do, they want better wrestlers. Because you can see they loaded it up with Ricochet who hasn’t been around, JD who came from nowhere.”
Despite the change, WWE appears to be leaning towards Sami Zayn or Chad Gable as potential challengers for the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania.
Backstage Talks on Next Week’s Gauntlet Match
