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CM Punk vs. Gunther

Match

Match Data
Fixture:
Date:
02.08.2025
WON rating:
****1/2
Match type:
8.​55
Current Total Rating (?)
Valid votes: 888
Number of comments: 253
10.0 211x
9.0 315x
8.0 210x
7.0 116x
6.0 15x
5.0 5x
4.0 3x
3.0 8x
2.0 1x
1.0 1x
0.0 3x
Average rating: 8.55  [888]
Average rating in 2026: 8.17  [84]
Average rating in 2025: 8.59  [804]
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jajt1989 wrote on 12.07.2026:
[8.0] "Was a damn good match, Gunther just whipping CM Punks ass for about 15 minutes straight or so was awesome to watch. The powerbombs Gunther hit looked like ass but at the same time didn't take away from the match. The people rating this 0s and 1s have absolutely no idea"
Whynotagain wrote on 12.07.2026:
[1.0] "This is one of those matches where reputation carried the reception more than the actual performance. If you remove the names CM Punk and Gunther from the equation and judge only what happened bell to bell, there's very little to praise. The match lacked intensity, creativity, and emotional investment. It felt like they were trying to tell a slow, old-school story, but instead it came across as dull and lifeless. There were long stretches where almost nothing of importance happened, and when they finally exchanged bigger moves, they failed to create any real excitement because the match had already lost my attention. Gunther has had far better matches with a variety of opponents, and Punk has shown he can still deliver when paired with the right wrestler. Unfortunately, these two simply didn't click. The ending felt anticlimactic, and by the time it was over I was relieved rather than impressed. This was a massive missed opportunity considering the talent involved and the hype leading into it."
mitaalex wrote on 12.07.2026:
[0.0] "I honestly don't understand why this match is getting so much praise. On paper, CM Punk vs. Gunther sounded like a dream match, but the reality was completely different. The pacing was incredibly slow, and instead of building tension, it felt like they were simply killing time between spots. Gunther usually excels at making every strike and every exchange feel meaningful, but here almost everything felt repetitive and lacking in urgency. Punk never seemed to find a rhythm, and the chemistry between the two just wasn't there. Every time I thought the match was finally about to pick up, it slowed down again. The crowd seemed interested because of the names involved, not because of what was actually happening in the ring. The finish didn't change my opinion at all it just ended an underwhelming contest that went far longer than it needed to. Considering the expectations surrounding this match, this was one of the biggest disappointments of the year for me. I have absolutely no desire to watch it again."
Figure4Dragon wrote on 08.07.2026:
[9.0] "CM Punk's in-ring babyface work might be my favorite from his catalog; in this match, as things gradually expanded from its first third, he portrayed being withered with a waning gas tank, selling the exhaustion of being bested in almost every exchange. However, an arrogant Gunther got ahead of himself with an early celebration, which gave Punk the opportunity to slide in and create a window for himself. When you pair that with Punk's passion that kept him alive throughout the match, they produced a very believable conclusion, considering how dominant Gunther was. Glad this match got the time to grow because they had to work through a few issues before they truly clicked in the first third. As good as Punk selling was here, Gunther was just as fantastic, having to take so much of the match. The crowd never appeared bored; more like they were focusing, but late in the 23-minute mark, Punk teased a turn of the tide, and from then on, they became more audible, awaiting to come alive. ****1/2"
den grayedo wrote on 24.05.2026:
[5.0] "A boring half-hour match, zero interesting spots, and the submission match was also uninteresting. It's unclear why they chose such a dull style of fighting; I expected more from them. Gunther's bloody moment was just horrific. Apparently, there wasn't any hardcore spot; he crawled under the table and just got blood all over his face, even more than in the all-in main event. The only good thing was Rollins' cash. At one point, I thought he'd come out for nothing, but it wasn't. It's a shame, of course, that rumors had been circulating for a while; it spoiled the moment, but a heel Rollins as champion is always cool."
JaceyD223223 wrote on 20.05.2026:
[0.0] "Ok this is the only match in WWE history that gets a lot of praise that I thought was absolute ass. This might be the most boring match I've ever seen. This was 30 minutes long and it didn't hit next gear until like 25 minutes in. This was so unbearably slow. When it finally did pick up Gunther was hitting the worst powerbombs of all time on Punk. I'm just sitting there waiting for something cool to happen and it just never happened here. The blade job was kinda cool but it's pretty sad you have to physically cut yourself to make a match somewhat exciting. This is one of those hard hitting matches which I normally don't mind but this was just miserably boring. Punk and Gunther have had good matches but together they were absolutely unwatchable. If you like chops, holds and kicks for 25 minutes straight then this match is for you but that's not for me. If you have insomnia, watch this match you'll fall asleep real fast."
hassan01 wrote on 04.04.2026:
[8.0] "Clear MOTN, excellently built and a superb ending. Punk targets Gunther's arm in an attempt to hamper his primary means of offense i.e his strength.Gunther initially struggles to land effective offense but is able to whether the storm and then takes Punk to slam town himself. Punk is visibly overwhelmed by the aggresive offense and beat to a pulp. Punk then showcases his resilience and stubborness taking the offense dished out to him but refusing to stay down for a 3 count. Towards the end, he has fiery comebacks but isnt able to shake Gunther by much who manages to still maintain control. It is however his brashness and arrogance that costs him the gold and that's what happened in the end where Gunther knowingly or unknowingly allowed Punk enough time to formulate a plan, trip him over on the announce desk then a GTS inside the ring and it was all academic after that. ****1/4"
tsh20 wrote on 05.03.2026:
[10.0] "They finally gave Gunther a real opponent that isn't a commentator, senior citizen, or a 40 year old manchild who yeets, and he put on a clinic. Him and Punk put on a real, gritty, emotional David vs Goliath performance, and Punk coming out on top was such a good moment. I enjoyed the homage to Bret Hart, as Punk countered Gunther's sharpshooter into one of his own, as well as every moment after Gunther started bleeding. I will not comment on what happened after the match. (9.5/10)"
Pulamea wrote on 27.01.2026:
[10.0] "A big-fight atmosphere done right. From the opening lock-up to the final blow, the match commanded attention through presence alone. The physicality was punishing, the emotions were clear, and the structure was rock-solid. This wasn't just a great match--it felt like a statement performance."
papamama wrote on 27.01.2026:
[10.0] "This was pro wrestling stripped down to its most effective elements. No excess, no shortcuts, just raw intensity and precise execution. The way momentum shifted felt organic, almost inevitable, and the closing stretch delivered genuine suspense. It's the kind of match that grows better the more you think about it."
laurentiupopescu wrote on 27.01.2026:
[10.0] "An exceptional blend of psychology and punishment. The match thrived on contrast: resilience versus dominance, survival versus destruction. The selling elevated every sequence, making even the simplest moves feel decisive. There was no wasted motion, no empty spectacle, just two performers extracting maximum drama from every moment."
Its Clobbering Time wrote on 24.01.2026:
[8.0] "Amazing match, one of the best all year, Punk came out to a thunderous pop and the ring general came out as cocky as ever. The match was a technical masterpiece with Gunther dominating most out of the match, whenever punk gained momentum he would shut it down with a chop, the match took a turn when Gunther got to cocky and punk took advantage on the outside, he busted open Gunther on the announce table, got him in the ring and hit all of his signature moves and two GTS to become the New World Heavyweight Champion, such a happy moment to see punk back on top. But it didn't last long as Seth comes out throws his crutches and cashes in the Money in the Bank to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. (4.25*)"
GolomWrestling wrote on 20.01.2026:
[7.0] "Starting good, but it feels like punk is in slow motion mode. 50% of the commentary team is a bit out of the loop it feels. Wade Barrett should not be here. Blocking each other very well. good Arm work. Gunther should get a slap to the face added in his repertoire. I don't love the "Gunther cant take submissions" bit. This is so slow on so many moments just wasted to nothing happening. We kinda lost the great armwork from Punk in the middle of the match and it wasn'T picked back up again. CM Punk is literally unable to take a fucking bump anymore, I'm just so worried about him. You could easily delete 5-10+ minutes of this match, and it is really hurt by the moments of nothing. The arrogant Gunther is played up so much. What the fuck busted Gunther? I LOVED the story of gunther bleeding and being way too taken back by this!"
boymeetsworld wrote on 18.01.2026:
[3.0] "I think the best way to describe this match is a 'frustrating shitty first draft' - Gunther worked Punk's match and pace which was expected, unfortunately Punk's performance was all over the place, which made few flashes of good chemistry stand out so much compared to the rest of this match. Punk's offense at times (especially early) was also worryingly bad, it caught attention for the wrong reasons and contributed in making Punk's inevtiable comeback feel underwhelming when it actually happened. Match structure though was very good, so if these two will have another match in the future, I'm fairly confident that it will be way better than this one."
pchungus wrote on 13.01.2026:
"[8.7/10] Upon first watch i thought this match was pretty slow. I listened to youtubers discuss and talk about their opinions. I listened and they gave me a new perspective. I realized this was an "old school" style of match! So I decided to rewatch and pay attention to the story these two guys were telling and the physicality. This match is an "uncomfortable" beatdown but it was great on the rewatch! I appreciate punk's selling of Gunther's offense. I thought Gunther drawing blood wasn't earned from the move that was done but other than that I really enjoyed this! Seth Rollins working us after the match was golden as well! Overall this was a great match! ****1/2"
Wrestlingfan0808 wrote on 08.01.2026:
[10.0] "Cm Punk vs Gunther, a dream for many wrestling fans when Punk made his long awaited return to the company in 2023. With heavy signs that this match could even happen on screen one day was when Punk was watching Kenta Kobashi tape after his feud with Drew McIntyre. Punk even teased it after his match with Drew after bash in Berlin but it was clear things weren't resolved with drew yet. They managed to have matches with one another during live events/house shows that were pretty good that grew the anticipated match even further to the point this match was suggested to happen at wrestlemania before plans changed. Then Punk wins a gauntlet match to become the number one contender to face Gunther for the whc. The stage was set. Gunther vs Punk for the first time televised at Summerslam in the main event of night 1. This was everything I was hoping for and then some. Classical main event wrestling being displayed. From the early mat work, to Punk working the arm in the early going to hinder Gunther's ability to do his patented chops. Then when that didn't work, Gunther said what he promised he was going to do, he was going to maul Cm Punk. From the vicious chops, to the various submission attempts, to the incredible selling from Punk. To the trash talk from Gunther referencing when Punk called him a kid on the go home show of the raw before summerslam. This was one of Gunther's best performances from an all around standpoint in quite some time. Loved the way how Punk balanced his hope spots in this match, despite the beating he was receiving, he just kept fight until there was an opening. Gunther's cut offs were sublime. Perfect timing on all of them. Loved the Bret Hart callbacks considering Gunther's history with the man and the triangle choke attempt paying homage to the undertaker when he wrestled the undertaker at wrestlemania 29. As Gunther continued his dominance, his old habits that led to him losing certain matches came back to hunt him, when he got too arrogant thinking that he had the match in hand by getting on the announce table, and that's when Punk pounced. Just like that Punk had another sign of life. Then the unthinkable happened, Gunther was covered in his own blood and he couldn't believe it, to the point Gunther started to beg Cm Punk off, showing signs of mercy, but Punk knew what needed to be done to win the match. As Punk was attempting another GTS, Gunther reversed it out of desperation locking in his patented sleeper before Punk got out of it. Then boom, Punk hits not one but two GTS's and after a decade, Punk was world champ in the WWE once again. Unfortunate what happened minutes later but I will never take for granted seeing Punk winning world title again, he will get the run he wants, he just has to be more patient. An incredible match that shows what WWE can do if they decided to lean on their top guys just going out there and having wrestling matches to see who the better man is. This was special. Not only is this one of the best matches in summerlam history, but this is one of the best wrestling matches ever. This was professional wrestling done right. A love letter you could say in what could happen when you don't give up and just keep on fighting. That's what Punk did here, and will continue to do when he officially calls it quits. And this was a reminder of who Gunther is. It took some underachieving opponents in his past for folks for forget bow great he is. Well now you know, and don't you forget about that this time. ****3/4"
[10.0] "An old school masterpiece.. I can understand why one may not like this but this was for me. Punk looked so good here and Gunther was Gunther."
FelipeTalksGraps wrote on 29.12.2025:
[9.0] "[4.25*] Yeah, this was perfect professional wrestling for my taste. I had insane levels of joy watching these two professionals having a classic old-school wrestling battle inside this ring. A match focused on limb-work, psychology, heat and selling. A match so creative, using a lot of classic schticks like Punk ricocheting on the ropes and working on Gunther's arms so he could not use the chop (a plan that absolutely failed lmao), Gunther being desperate with the blood because this isn't something that he's used to, while this was the major energy boost for Punk because he loves blood, the trash talking, the fact that this was just two guys trying to prove which one is the best instead of someone being mad at something Punk did in 2009 or something... man, everything about this one was perfect. It remembered me a lot of Punk vs Mox in a sense that every single move led to the next one, all of them made sense together in the bigger picture - but this match was even better than that one. They didn't rely on finishers, hype moments and aura. They just wrestled. They just wrestled a straight-up technical match while the ignorant crowd was in silence trying to process what was happening. This was fucking beautiful, dude. I saw some people complaining about Gunther's Powerbombs and although I see a valid argument there, I disagree. I think his Powerbombs are so different than the others it makes them special. They're different, unique and they protect the opponent. Yes, they're not stiff, but I find them believable, so that's all I need. A classic that is simply above what this company usually does. EDIT: Yeah, in a rewatch the match really seems soft. I didn't have this feeling watching it live because I was so impressed, but yeah, it was a little bit too much soft for a 10/10 rating indeed."
HaShW7mpp wrote on 19.12.2025:
[10.0] "{10.0} Finally Wwe puts Gunther vs great wrestler. Punk and Gunther made a beautiful match and this match save the night. Great performance in the ring these two played a one of the best match in this year in WWE {*****} ."
ThePrincelyAngel wrote on 13.12.2025:
[6.0] "A solid but frustrating match, which leaves a slight feeling of unfinished business given the names involved. CM Punk and Gunther offer an interesting matchup on paper, with a real contrast in styles, but the execution sometimes lacks fluidity and, above all, dramatic build-up. Gunther does his usual job: physical domination, heavy chops, and a credible presence. Punk, on the other hand, relies more on storytelling and experience than pure intensity, which works in sequences but struggles to maintain constant tension over time. The match is well structured, without being truly captivating, and remains too tame to reach the level one might expect from such a clash at SummerSlam. It's far from a bad match, but also far from a classic. A decent, professional, sometimes interesting clash, but one that never fully exploits its potential."
Marshaw wrote on 01.12.2025:
[9.0] "I was very excited for this match heading into the show as I think everyone knew this was going to be a classic, and it delivered exactly that. Incredible stuff from both performers who are, ironically, the best male wrestlers in WWE right now. CM Punk can tell a story with anyone and Gunther can bring out the best out of anybody in a match, you mix both of those together and you get a match like this. I loved the finish with Gunther bleeding and Punk capitalizing on it with 2 GTS's. Right winner and the cash-in from Seth afterwards makes this Gunther Punk match even more memorable."
HeyyItsKris wrote on 30.11.2025:
[10.0] "This match turned me from someone who liked CM Punk into a CM Punk diehard fan. The storytelling is genuinely amazing. The old CM Punk against the younger Ring General, Gunther. Early, Punk surprised Gunther but overtime, Gunther overwhelmed Punk and does what he does best. Gunther allowed Punk to make comebacks, just to snuff them out at their peak. Gunther is the best when he is allowed to destroy hope in nothing short of a methodical and brutal fashion. The true beauty of this match however, is the ending. Punk trips Gunther up on the announce table and Gunther is busted open. In his head, Gunther is invincible, but now, he can see that he is mortal. And CM Punk uses this break in Gunther's psyche to hit the Go-to-Sleep and become World Heavyweight Champion. I don't even care about the Cash-In from Seth Rollins afterwards, for a pure main event match at the end of a dull, boring SummerSlam, this is in my opinion the best match in WWE for 2025."
Cavazos01 wrote on 19.10.2025:
[8.0] "****3/4 a very great match, in short terms it's like Sami Zayn vs Gunther from WM 40 but perfected and fixing the mistakes, a very great chemistry was noticed that both put their style into the match, they were completely comfortable and understood each other perfectly, very great sequences, highlighted that reference to Hart vs Bulldog with Gunther applying the Sharpshooter and Punk reversing and applying the Sharpshooter from the ground, excellent intensity, Punk was dominated in the match as was logical and correct, but he had his moments of mini comebacks that he took advantage of perfectly doing the necessary damage to Gunther before the end, using technical keys and looking for the GTS, Gunther was enjoying damaging Punk, with Lariats and up to 3 powerbombs but Punk resisted them showing spirit and his kick-out in the GTS reversal sequence to Powebomb followed by the Dropkick and another powebomb was excellent and ignited the public, that moment put Gunther in total control, which gave a touch of storytelling that they have being counting from 2024 that is that Gunther becomes more in control and more confident is something that cost him the match while celebrating Punk attacked him and made Gunther fall on the table and caused him to bleed for the first time in WWE, something that Gunther sold brutally looking scared and confused because it had not happened to him and Punk takes advantage of applies a comeback tries the GTS and Gunther reverses it in the Rear naked choke in a desperate way that Punk manages to stand up and apply the GTS that Gunther does an excellent selling by not falling but not being able to even move what Punk takes advantage to do another GTS and defeat Gunther, the best fight of Punk since his return to wrestling, Gunther lasted little with the title but this fight in my opinion consolidates him as the biggest heel of the company along with Rollins for the next years, Gunther should be Cody's next rival in WM and that Gunther is the man to beat in his next reign now with the maximum title of the WWE, WWE Singles MOTY"
KingKrush29 wrote on 15.10.2025:
[10.0] "CM Punk's guts and stubbornness earn him a win in a match that was Gunther's to take, but his strutting and overweening cost him his shot at proving himself the best in the world."
NoelBees wrote on 14.10.2025:
[7.0] "As a fan of Gunther and someone whose greatly enjoyed CM Punk's work I was a bit let down by this match, especially by the ending. The match itself was not bad by any means, but I found that it was rather plodding during the beginning, although I have come around on the ending spot. Gunther losing to being pulled down on the announce table and then having a fantastic bladejob was fun. It also protected Gunther quite a bit as compared to previous losses of his. As noted by others CM Punk does a fantastic job of playing a "David" in the match which was quite refreshing to see. However, the post match angle has been a huge flop as of writing this, the Vision has already fallen apart with Seth Rollins being kicked out."
SkyIcons wrote on 30.09.2025:
[9.0] "Went 10 originally but it's so much worse on rewatch. Definitely feel like it went long for the sake of going long. Gunther bleeding and how he sold it is still godly but you have to sit through a whole lot of nothing to reach that climax of the story they were telling. Only gonna bump it down one cause I can't ignore how much l loved it first time around, but it's like a 4.25-4.5 star match."
usmani wrote on 21.09.2025:
[10.0] "Great Match, A technical and slow snooze fest for people who really like this type of match, as well as not just athletic high flying matches ( no offence) and with brilliant in-ring psychology and storytelling. It was a dream match, and heck yes, it delivered as were the expectations. Finally, we all know how great CM Punk is, but also props to Gunther, arguably the best wrestler in the world right now, and hope the company keep him in good matches like AJ Styles and Cena for example."
joethom wrote on 14.09.2025:
[7.0] "Three and three quarter stars, a good match that doesn't hit the heights I think it could have. Too much banter from Gunther with the story being he was physically dominating Punk until he fell on his face from arrogance but was too long for what they had. I think shaving even up to ten minutes here improves this vastly."
Deadpool wrote on 10.09.2025:
[10.0] "Just a brilliant old school vibe for a main event. They hit everything they needed too perfectly from Gunther being the dominant heel big man to punk being the old underdog chasing glory one more time."
goldendolphen wrote on 08.09.2025:
[8.0] "for modern wwe match this is pretty good! it was really interesting seeing them work they did and im glad they did. it made for an interesting match and stand out from the rest of the card. seeing gunther panic from the sight of his blood was great work. very unfortunate this was the shortest time he's held a world championship compared to the last 2 times."
fkaYiKES wrote on 04.09.2025:
[9.0] "Really brilliant match. I always saw people fantasy book Punk vs GUNTHER and never really understood why. Sure, it's a match I wanted to see between two wrestlers I love, but I was never AS in need of it as a lot of people seemed to be. But now I see why. I'd never considered Punk as being one of those Tyler Bate-esque 'David' type wrestlers to GUNTHER's 'Goliath', but WOW. Only thing this match could've done better is go even longer, and have GUNTHER be booked stronger going in, as he's had some weak creative recently. Truly a beautiful moment when Punk wins."
Overkill anx wrote on 03.09.2025:
[6.0] "This rating surprises me. Sure I will give punk his flowers for taking a beating but otherwise he was carried through the match by gunther. Punk seemed way too slow for the smaller guy. And it is beyond belief that punk would win after getting his ass kicked for half an hour. Gunther seemed amazing but was limited because of punk"
Billaowski wrote on 31.08.2025:
[9.0] "A match that needed to warm up but once it got going was like watching a vulture or hyena pick the bones as Gunther chopped and wrenched whatever appendage he could strike at or get a hold of. Punk was a bit gassed towards the end but I think it added to the story of the match and he picked his moment to strike at Gunther's overconfidence and secure the win with a final flurry. Almost certainly in the top 5 matches of WWE in 2025."
Hb7326 wrote on 26.08.2025:
[9.0] "This was 2025 pro wrestling at its finest, two of the very best the business has to offer showing why they have the spots they do. Both of these guys are throwbacks, men out of time, would've been great in any era type of guys, if you will. the simple psychology of gunther being big and bad until seeing his own blood is a brilliant piece of business in the year 2025. it wasnt over done, oversold, overbooked. it was just.... simple. these guys made it look simple. MOTY contender out of 5 i give it 4 3/4"
keithmn wrote on 26.08.2025:
[6.0] "I didn't get this match at all. Walter made it watchable but he had to slow down sooooo much for Punk. I know people will argue that he was selling, to me it looked like an old man totally gassed and struggling to make it through the match. This broke my suspension of disbelief more than any Punk match since he's returned. It's a tough match to rate, I'm landing on *** for the spectacle and Gunther looking like a killer when he was on offense."
ThanosWasRight wrote on 25.08.2025:
[10.0] "My 2nd WWE match of the year right behind the WM Night 2 Triple Threat. Just an old school type of classic where all it takes is one opening for the underdog babyface to capitalize & win. Gunther played Goliath perfectly right here making sure nothing Punk did worked but Punk never gave up & was clawing & fighting for that one opening to turn things around. Loved the reaction Gunther had when he saw blood he knew he was in trouble to the point he tried telling the ref to stop. What a classic"
noonanhen24 wrote on 25.08.2025:
[7.0] "A very slow and sluggish start, but the last 15 minutes or so were very good. Punk is no longer in his prime and it's very sad to see."
CMFunk007 wrote on 23.08.2025:
[8.0] "Two ring generals (pun intended) put on a fantastic match here. It's a bit slow-paced and, being a Gunther match, has a lot of chest chops. Punk looked spent about 15 minutes in, to be honest."
Kugenesan1 wrote on 21.08.2025:
[8.0] "8/10. Super sloppy match but that's what made it good. The story of Gunther's constant pressure and being 1 step forwards from Punk was told well. And eventually him being cocky is what caused his loss. The end sequence of the match was well crafted. The fans felt it too. Of course Seth coming back after what seem to be a fake injury, causing Punk his win. Haha, Punk simply can't be left alone by Seth."
Lamentis04 wrote on 20.08.2025:
[9.0] "CM Punk I think showed a lot of people he still has it. For months people called him "washed", even after his main event at Wrestlemania. Punk (and by extension Gunther), showed why they deserve to be in and stay in the main event."
PANDA23 wrote on 19.08.2025:
[9.0] "I really enjoyed the psychology and storytelling in this match. Both guys worked smart and told a compelling story in the ring. The finish felt both stupid and clever at the same time - stupid in execution, but intelligent in the sense that it protected Gunther, making him lose only after the cut and two GTS."
Kromil98 wrote on 16.08.2025:
[5.0] "A very boring fight, nothing happened for 80% of the match except for 30 chops by Gunther and Punk lying down, the ending was okay but overall it was boring, almost nothing happened, fight after fight there was a good cash in but the fight itself was weak.5/10"
NastyYaffa wrote on 15.08.2025:
[9.0] "A brilliant, strategic David vs. Goliath underdog tale by two masters of the craft. The best match of the year up to this point in my eyes, and the best CM Punk has looked in his WWE return thus far."
Giant Lizard wrote on 14.08.2025:
[3.0] "This was quite bad in my opinion, especially the beginning. I've rewatched the spots multiple times, they botched often, there were moments where they didn't know what to do and ended up doing things bad. I don't know whose fault it is, but they really had problems in the first half of the match. Either they don't have good communication or something went wrong. Even Gunther's bleeding wasn't good, he didn't even touch his head on the table, how the hell was he supposed to bleed?"
Kaseric wrote on 14.08.2025:
[9.0] "That was really good. Gunther and Punk are a fun pair and the story told throughout the match was incredible. The desperation from Punk was palpable and Gunther came across as the complete monster he is. And the way his whole demeanor shifted when he began to bleed was incredible."
ChefCurry wrote on 13.08.2025:
[10.0] "10 out of 10. Hands down the best WWE Main Event of the year & just an old school big match feeling vibe between these two. The finish of the match had me on the edge of my seat when Gunther started bleeding and you can see the fear start to set in & punk starting too smell blood in the water to take advantage & win the match. Wasn't big on the cash-in but this was amazing to watch"
CCC093 wrote on 13.08.2025:
"This match is incredible start to finish. The amount of ring psychology these 2 made this slow pace brawl main event quality. The submissions gave a great back and forth and the in ring story telling with punk being beaten but never giving up leading to gunthers cockiness what end up being his down fall. And the reaction to gunther being cut was amazing. I was worried through out the match that the cash in was going be a triple threat what would ruin the match due to the the slow hard hitting style they were going for, but they ended up doing it perfectly at the end with the kaiser soze reveal after the match leading to so many great possibilities like a gunther punk rematch , a gunther rolling angle and punk rolling angle. 10/10"
KingofKings5632 wrote on 13.08.2025:
[9.0] "This was excellent in my opinion. The pacing was SLOW, and Punk seemed gassed pretty early despite a slow pace, but this was a classic old-school main event. Gunther methodically taking the old man apart, while Punks exhaustion merely sold the war that was ongoing, was perfection. Chop, sell, chop sell, while punk continues to look like he's legitimately dying. And, brilliantly, the final stretch turned this story on its head. Drama happened, pace picked up, Punk got a second wind. It was impossible not to get invested and engrossed in the story being told. I can understand some criticisms, sometimes it was slow even for me, but man they reeled me in."
ICtheFourthColour wrote on 12.08.2025:
[9.0] "This was a great professional wrestling match. The main event of the inaugural night one of SummerSlam, Gunther and CM Punk brought the heat. The last five minutes or so was specifically top notch. The crowd gasp once Gunther's blood was shown was just how blood should be used in a match like this."
Sweet Fighter V wrote on 12.08.2025:
[9.0] "This is what we deserved at WrestleMania, not that Jey Uso underdog story bull$hit. But let's be glad they saved it for SummerSlam, because as far as booking and storytelling goes, the timing on this one couldn't have been any more perfect. As far as the in-ring work is concerned, this is some good ol' old school wrestling with a methodical pace, nothing fancy, just Gunther handing Punk a signature beating while talking trash, which is always a treat to watch. There's a few mishaps, Punk looks a bit sloppy at times but his selling is great. Of course, Gunther falls victim to yet another far-fetched comeback in a high-profile match against an "underdog", only this time with a nice trick to protect him, although I wish the execution was better. Loved the selling on the final two GTS and CM Punk getting his long-awaited moment. And then magic happens as Seth pulls off the single greatest, most shocking and dramatic story-driven cash-in ever. **** 1/2"