WWE has announced GUNTHER has been ‘suspended’ over his actions on the Raw after WrestleMania.
Just 48 hours after losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Jey Uso in Las Vegas, the Ring General retaliated by targeting commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee on the Netflix show.
He unleashed a brutal beatdown on both men, with McAfee being replaced at the desk by SmackDown star Joe Tessitore, while Cole returned to the booth.
As part of the ongoing storyline, Raw general manager Adam Pearce has announced action being taken against the former champ.
He said: ‘After conferring with representation of all three men, GUNTHER has been fined an undisclosed amount, and suspended indefinitely.’
The in-character video means the Austrian star could be off screen for a period of time, although WWE could still have him appear unannounced to continue his reign of terror.
In the video announcing the suspension, Pearce said: ‘By now, everyone has seen what happened on Raw between GUNTHER, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee.
‘First thing’s first, Pat and Cole are OK. Pat’s in Green Bay covering the NFL Draft, and Cole’s doing what he always does, preparing for Raw in a Hall of Fame way.
‘As for you, GUNTHER. Your actions were reprehensible and disgusting. You will never again put your hands on a member of my announce team, because there ain’t no heat in beating up an announcer.
‘You’re frustrated because you lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Jey Uso, and I get that, but if you wanna blame someone then park your ass in front of a mirror and ask the person staring back at ya.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Speaking on his own Pat McAfee Show, the former NFL star played up to the storyline and insisted he initially feared ‘something in the neck’ as a result of the attack.
‘There are security and there is nobody [helping] as I’m getting my life choked out of me. What am I supposed to do? I found out quickly there isn’t much to do when GUNTHER has that thing on you. I felt my body slithering away. You kind of disappear from existence,’ he said.
‘Everybody who said they are happy it happened to me, I hope we meet in person so I can punch you in the f***ing face. I was sticking up for Michael Cole. What happens next? You tell me.
‘I’m bout it, bout it for whatever. If you think choking me out is going to end me, you’re wrong. You think you’re going to bury me publicly, and I’m gonna quit showing up? You’re wrong.’
GUNTHER could be on a collision course with McAfee when he’s back on screen.
Shortly before his match with Jey, the former champ opened up on people’s doubts – including his own – about their storyline, and urged his opponent to ‘step up’.
‘[I’m] always very proud of the work I do – I don’t know about Jey! I think we’re in a very good spot,’ GUNTHER told Metro.
‘There is a lot of people that followed me before WWE, they wanna see me in those technical ring matches, but in WWE, that’s not really what it’s about, it’s about more aspects.
‘You can’t deny it, think about Jey whatever you want, but most people – I was under the ring at Madison Square Garden ready to jump that guy, and that floor was shaking when he made his entrance.’
Netflix is the home of WWE in the UK, including weekly episodes of Raw, NXT and SmackDown.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.