Gunther loses two marquee matches in 2026 WWE shake-up

Gunther’s 2026 roadmap just vanished after WWE creative pulled two marquee matches in the first half of the year.

What happened?

WWE scrubbed Gunther’s planned clashes with Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar in 2026, according to Self Made Pro. The ‘Ring General’ was set to face Lesnar at SummerSlam before creative pivoted to Brock’s Hell In A Cell blow-off with Oba Femi instead. Gunther’s next PLE remains unsigned, with August’s event the next possible slot.

Why it matters for Gunther

The cancellations leave Gunther without his dream matches and a top-tier SummerSlam spot. Sources told Self Made Pro the shift wasn’t Lesnar’s call-Brock is described as “the least creatively picky he’s been for a long time.” Creative simply wanted to wrap the Oba storyline first. Gunther’s year still includes banner wins over Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles, but the Reigns and Lesnar bouts would’ve been career-defining.

What comes next?

Gunther’s August PLE match is still up in the air. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis is the front-runner to step into the ring, or he could hand the Austrian a substitute opponent. The writing team may revisit Gunther’s WWE Title push later in 2026 after the CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes announcement sidelined his top-tier status.

Where does this leave Gunther’s 2026?

The cancellations mark a rare creative misfire for one of WWE’s most reliable in-ring workhorses. Gunther’s 2026 resume still sparkles with wins over Rhodes and Styles, but the lost Reigns and Lesnar matches sting. The final quarter could yet deliver the marquee run he’s chasing-if creative finally locks in his next big dance.