“What a sh*t way to end the match man,”- WWE Universe pi*ed off after botched finish in Randy Orton vs. Gunther match to crown the new King of the Ring

Gunther pins Randy Orton in highly controversial fashion to get a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity.

“What a sh*t way to end the match man,”- WWE Universe pi*ed off after botched finish in Randy Orton vs. Gunther match to crown the new King of the Ring

Gunther vs. Randy Orton (via WWE)

Gunther faced Randy Orton in the King of the Ring tournament finals in Saudi Arabia. After a grueling and hard-hitting match, The Ring General emerged victorious to claim the title of ‘King of the Ring.’ However, the manner in which he won the match has proved to be quite controversial.

Although Gunther was successful in pinning his opponent, Orton’s shoulder seemed to be elevated during the pinfall. The former NXT UK Champion was able to get his opponent into a crucifix pin. Although the former WWE Champion got a shoulder up, the referee did not see it, counted to three, and declared the Austrian as the winner of the match.

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During the match, Randy Orton attempted a power slam, which tweaked his already-hurt knee. This was all the advantage that the Ring General needed in order to capitalize and take down the wrestling legend. He targeted the knee with stomps, submissions, and dropkicks throughout the match.

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Orton fought back valiantly and was finally able to catch his opponent with an RKO. However, right as he was about to go for the pin, the former Intercontinental Champion struck him in the knee. The 36-year-old took advantage of his opportunity and got his opponent in the crucifix pin that won him the match. 

WWE Universe is left fuming after Gunther pins Randy Orton while his shoulder is raised

This weird ending to the tournament ruffled a lot of feathers within the WWE Universe. Many claimed that this was an unjust end to a tournament that had proven to be great so far. Furthermore, it takes away from Gunther’s victory, as he did not get a clean pin in the finals. 

Gunther Randy Orton
Gunther pins Randy Orton with his shoulder up (via WWE)

Many understood why something like this needed to be done. The Raw Superstar not winning cleanly protects the wrestling legend. It also keeps open the possibility of a potential rematch between the two if they ever cross paths again.

Some even speculated that another botch took place during the PLE. The Austrian could have potentially pushed too much as he put his opponent into the pin, causing his shoulder to rise. Alternatively, the referee perhaps did not mean to count to three, and the match was called off early.

Regardless, winning the King of the Ring could be a huge boost for the rising star’s career. This win not only puts him among some of the greatest but also gives him a World Championship opportunity at SummerSlam 2024 against the winner of Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre.

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