🔥 “I Didn’t Even Need to ”Talk”—GUNTHER Explains His Brutal RAW Promo as Maven Exposes Old-School WWE Pay Secrets
GUNTHER isn’t just winning matches—he’s reshaping how fans feel about him, and he’s loving every second of it. Following his controversial RAW promo last week, “The Ring General” pulled back the curtain on what was going through his mind as he stood in the ring, fresh off ending John Cena’s in-ring career at Saturday Night’s Main Event. And surprisingly, it wasn’t some long, dramatic speech he had planned.
Instead, GUNTHER chose something far colder: silence… and satisfaction.
GUNTHER on Becoming WWE’s Most Hated Man
Speaking on The Masked Man Show, GUNTHER admitted that while he initially overthought the promo, inspiration struck at the last moment — and it was simple.
He compared the situation to iconic moments like Brock Lesnar after beating The Undertaker and Roman Reigns’ “This Is My Yard Now” promo. But once he stepped through the curtain, he realized something powerful:
He didn’t need to say anything.
GUNTHER revealed that the real message was already delivered in the ring — forcing Cena to tap out and walking away as the man who ended a legendary career. All that was left to do was twist the knife.
“I’m just gonna rub it in,” he said, admitting he decided to soak in the moment and enjoy the reaction instead of overexplaining it.
No More Respect — And GUNTHER Loves It
Perhaps the most telling part of his comments was how he addressed the crowd’s reaction.
GUNTHER acknowledged that while fans used to boo him, there was always an underlying respect for his in-ring work. Now? That respect is gone — replaced by pure hatred.
And to him, that’s a win.
He explained that he doesn’t care about being judged or liked, only about knowing what he’s capable of — and executing it at the highest level.
In his eyes, this is the perfect spot for his character, and WWE fans are responding exactly the way they’re supposed to.
Maven Reveals How WWE Pay Really Worked Back Then
While GUNTHER dominated headlines on RAW, former WWE star Maven dropped some fascinating behind-the-scenes details about how wrestlers were paid during his era.
On his YouTube channel, the Tough Enough winner explained that WWE talent were once paid per match, not on guaranteed contracts like today.
And the paycheck wasn’t random.
According to Maven, earnings depended on:
- Your spot on the card
- The venue
- Ticket sales
- Match type
Go the extra mile — especially in hardcore matches — and you might even earn a bonus.
“We were incentivized to wrestle,” Maven said. “If you didn’t get booked, your paycheck felt it.”
Why WWE Superstars Look Different Today
Maven also addressed a topic fans often debate: why modern WWE rosters don’t look as massive as they used to.
He pointed to two major reasons:
- Steroids are no longer prevalent, which he called a positive change that helps extend wrestlers’ lives.
- Management now values athleticism and character over sheer size.
Maven explained that in the past, simply looking like a monster could fast-track someone to stardom, while insanely talented performers — like AJ Styles — might have been overlooked.
Today, skill wins.
And Maven believes that’s exactly how it should be.
Final Takeaway
Between GUNTHER embracing his role as WWE’s top villain and Maven shedding light on how much the business has evolved, this week offered fans a fascinating mix of present-day dominance and old-school reality.
One thing’s clear:
Whether it’s silence in the ring or honesty behind the scenes, sometimes less really does say more.
