Gunther Wins WWE King of the Ring 2024, Defeats Randy Orton

Gunther wins 2024 WWE King of the Ring, earns SummerSlam title shot after defeating Randy Orton in Saudi Arabia.

Gunther emerged victorious over Randy Orton at the King and Queen of the Ring event in Saudi Arabia, securing the 2024 WWE King of the Ring title and earning a shot at the world championship at SummerSlam. Despite Orton delivering an RKO towards the end of the match, Gunther's resilience and tactical pinning strategy allowed him to secure the win, even though Orton's shoulder may have been up during the pinfall.

The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments had not taken place since 2021, but this year marked their return following Backlash. Gunther, who had been absent from WWE programming after losing the intercontinental championship to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40, made a triumphant return to Raw with his eyes set on claiming the King of the Ring title.

Gunther dominated the competition on the Raw side of the bracket, defeating Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, and Jey Uso to advance to the finals. On the SmackDown side, Orton overcame AJ Styles, Carmelo Hayes, and Tama Tonga to set up a showdown with Gunther in the finals.

Since his debut on the main roster in 2022, Gunther has proven to be an unstoppable force, with his only singles loss coming at the hands of Zayn at WrestleMania. Despite this setback, WWE quickly positioned Gunther as a top contender for the King of the Ring title, a decision that paid off as he emerged victorious over Orton in a thrilling finale.

Gunther's journey to the King of the Ring crown was a testament to his skill, determination, and unwavering focus on achieving greatness in the WWE. His victory over Orton solidified his status as a top competitor in the company and set the stage for an epic showdown at SummerSlam for the world championship.