Gunther Reflects on Nearly Quitting Pro Wrestling

Gunther, WWE's dominant force, has revealed he nearly quit pro wrestling in 2013 or 2014 due to exhaustion from working a day job and wrestling on weekends.

What led to the breaking point?

He had a day job working only night shifts for nearly three years and wrestling on weekends, which took a toll that was hard to sustain.

Gunther's goal was always to make a living off professional wrestling, but it seemed out of sight, leading him to consider quitting.

How did he turn it around?

He spoke with Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) and said he would either run a wrestling school for them or call it quits, and they were happy to employ him to do so.

This decision marked a turning point in Gunther's career, allowing him to focus on professional wrestling full-time.

What's next for Gunther?

Gunther is set to challenge Damian Priest for the world heavyweight title at SummerSlam on August 3, and he may have a significant presence at the inaugural Bash in Berlin event on August 31.

The event will take place a seven or eight-hour drive from Gunther's birthplace of Vienna, Austria, and he distinctly remembers wrestling in small venues throughout Germany.

Gunther and his Imperium stablemate Ludwig Kaiser would have been skeptical if you had told them a decade ago they'd one day play a role in bringing WWE's debut PPV to Germany.

It was highly unrealistic, but Gunther believes his being in WWE right now is a factor in why they wanted to do a premium live event (PLE) there.

Gunther has had a remarkable run in the WWE, setting records for longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match, becoming King of the Ring, and challenging for the world heavyweight title.

He accomplished all this in a 28-month main roster run, and his dominance in professional wrestling's marquee promotion is rarely seen.

"I had a day job working only night shifts for nearly three years and wrestling on the weekends. That took a toll that was hard to sustain," Gunther told CBS Sports.

Gunther will celebrate two decades as a professional wrestler next year, and he is ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

He ran 60 or 70 shows a month with wXw, and after every show, the big speech was that they worked hard so professional wrestling in Germany would become accessible again.

Gunther wants to claim that his being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE in Germany, and he thinks it's a very nice accomplishment.

"When Ludwig Kaiser and I were in wXw, we were trying to commit to that and set everything else in life aside to make that big and get it going," Gunther said.

The chances of making it to the WWE weren't high for Gunther, but he persevered and is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

"It changed a lot when they started signing guys from the indies and being open to the worldwide wrestling scene. It's been a long ride to get here so now I'm ready to enjoy it," Gunther said.

Gunther's journey is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the WWE for years to come.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

The WWE has emphasized its global reach in recent years, often traveling the world to produce its monthly pay-per-view events, which the company refers to as premium live events.

One of those events is the inaugural Bash in Berlin event on August 31, which will be a historic moment for Gunther and the WWE.

"I distinctly remember wrestling in small venues throughout Germany. It's surreal thinking I might enter the 17,000-capacity Uber Arena as world champion, having cut my teeth wrestling in Berlin nightclubs," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"My goal was always to make a living off professional wrestling. That was not in sight so I thought I should call it quits and focus on a career in my real job," Gunther told CBS Sports.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there. I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"It was highly unrealistic," Gunther said, referring to the chances of making it to the WWE.

But Gunther persevered and is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now a dominant force in the WWE.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

"I had to make a decision, and I'm glad I made the right one," Gunther said, referring to his decision to focus on professional wrestling full-time.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"It changed a lot when they started signing guys from the indies and being open to the worldwide wrestling scene," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I'm obviously not the only reason this event is happening, but I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's been a long ride to get here so now I'm ready to enjoy it," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I distinctly remember wrestling in small venues throughout Germany," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's surreal thinking I might enter the 17,000-capacity Uber Arena as world champion, having cut my teeth wrestling in Berlin nightclubs," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"It changed a lot when they started signing guys from the indies and being open to the worldwide wrestling scene," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I'm obviously not the only reason this event is happening, but I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's been a long ride to get here so now I'm ready to enjoy it," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I distinctly remember wrestling in small venues throughout Germany," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's surreal thinking I might enter the 17,000-capacity Uber Arena as world champion, having cut my teeth wrestling in Berlin nightclubs," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"It changed a lot when they started signing guys from the indies and being open to the worldwide wrestling scene," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I'm obviously not the only reason this event is happening, but I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's been a long ride to get here so now I'm ready to enjoy it," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I distinctly remember wrestling in small venues throughout Germany," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's surreal thinking I might enter the 17,000-capacity Uber Arena as world champion, having cut my teeth wrestling in Berlin nightclubs," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"It changed a lot when they started signing guys from the indies and being open to the worldwide wrestling scene," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I'm obviously not the only reason this event is happening, but I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's been a long ride to get here so now I'm ready to enjoy it," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I distinctly remember wrestling in small venues throughout Germany," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's surreal thinking I might enter the 17,000-capacity Uber Arena as world champion, having cut my teeth wrestling in Berlin nightclubs," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"It changed a lot when they started signing guys from the indies and being open to the worldwide wrestling scene," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I'm obviously not the only reason this event is happening, but I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's been a long ride to get here so now I'm ready to enjoy it," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I distinctly remember wrestling in small venues throughout Germany," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"It's surreal thinking I might enter the 17,000-capacity Uber Arena as world champion, having cut my teeth wrestling in Berlin nightclubs," Gunther said.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning intercontinental champion and the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

Gunther's dominance in the WWE is a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he will continue to be a major player in the promotion for years to come.

"I want to claim that my being in WWE right now is a factor for why they wanted to do a PLE there," Gunther said.

Gunther's story is an inspiration to many, and he continues to be a fan favorite in the WWE.

He has come a long way since his early days as a professional wrestler, and he is now one of the top wrestlers in the promotion.

Gunther's upcoming match against Damian Priest at SummerSlam will be a highly anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see if he can emerge victorious.

"I think it's a very nice accomplishment," Gunther said, referring to the inaugural Bash in Berlin event.

Gunther's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, and he continues to be a dominant force in the WWE.

He has set multiple records in the WWE, including the longest reigning