Sami Zayn faced off against Gunther at WrestleMania 40 in a match that was likened to Rocky Balboa vs. Ivan Drago. Gunther, with a reign of nearly 670 days, seemed to have the upper hand with repeated chops to Zayn’s chest. However, Zayn showed his resilience by fighting back and eventually winning the Intercontinental Championship after hitting multiple stunners and finishing moves to defeat the champion. Despite Gunther’s brutal attacks and trash talk towards Zayn’s wife, Zayn refused to give up and emerged victorious.
Throughout the match, Gunther dominated with his powerful moves and strikes, but Zayn demonstrated his ability to withstand the punishment and keep fighting. Despite being put in a sleeper hold and hit with a German suplex, Zayn managed to counter Gunther’s moves and stay in the match. Gunther, frustrated by Zayn’s resilience, continued to attack and trash talk, believing he should have won the match already. However, Zayn’s determination and fighting spirit led to his ultimate victory over the long-reigning champion.
In a surprising turn of events, Zayn was able to turn the tide of the match in his favor with a burst of energy and a series of well-executed moves. Despite Gunther’s best efforts, Zayn was able to hit his signature helluva kick and a wild brainbuster to finally secure the pinfall victory and end Gunther’s 666-day reign as Intercontinental Champion. The crowd erupted in excitement as Zayn celebrated his hard-fought victory and walked away from WrestleMania with another championship victory.
This win marked Zayn’s second consecutive year leaving WrestleMania with gold, as he had previously won the tag-team championship with Kevin Owens the year before. Zayn’s victory over Gunther solidified his status as a top competitor in the wrestling world and showcased his ability to overcome adversity and emerge victorious in high-stakes matches. The match between Zayn and Gunther at WrestleMania 40 will go down as a significant moment in Zayn’s career and in the history of the Intercontinental Championship.
