#284: Gunther vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre, WWE WrestleMania 39, Night 2 (4/2/2023).
This is a Triple Threat Match for Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship.
The Ring General has reigned as IC Champ for nearly a year, and he’s drawn the ire of Sheamus and Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Psychopath believes he can take down Gunther, while Sheamus is looking for a chance to right the wrong of his legendary loss to Gunther at Clash at the Castle.
The bell sounds, and this should be a war! Gunther is talking smack to both of them right away, and Drew kicks him to the outside. Now he and Sheamus go face to face. Big fisticuff battle begins between them!
Kick to the face by McIntyre, and an uppercut by Sheamus. McIntyre gets back in control, and chops him. Sheamus catches him with the Irish Curse Backbreaker. He sends Drew to the apron, and looks for the 10 Beats.
Here's Gunther, who lays both men out with a chop. He locks a sleeper in on Sheamus, and then chops him to the mat. Drew is back, only for Gunther to send him into the ring post.
He connects with a stiff kick to the head of Sheamus, and then a chop to the chest. Another boot connects to the face, and Gunther is standing tall. Sheamus with some clubbing blows, but Gunther connects with a backbreaker. He goes right into a Boston Crab submission.
Drew kicks Gunther in the face, but he won't break the submission. They square up in the middle of the ring, and the chops are hard as hell! Drew forces Gunther to the corner with his chops, as the crowd applauds!
Sheamus lands some uppercuts on both men. Drew trades blows with his opponents. Gunther with a hard boot to Sheamus' face. Sheamus grabs him against the ropes, and hits the 10 Beats. Drew also chops Gunther at the same time!
Drew quickly forearms Sheamus off the apron, and then brings him back into the Ring. Sheamus gets back in the lead, and he connects with the 10 Beats to his chest. Only this time, Sheamus gives Drew 28! The crowd pops hard.
Sheamus lifts Drew up for the Celtic Cross, but Gunther comes in and kicks him in the mush. Release German Suplex, followed by a clothesline, and Sheamus somehow gets his shoulders up.
Gunther gears up, and lands a hard lariat to Sheamus! He covers, and the Celtic Warrior kicks out again! Drew with a diving elbow off the top rope to Gunther! Nice neckbreaker from Drew, who turns his sights to Sheamus.
Belly to belly to him, into Gunther in the corner. Future Shock DDT! Gunther comes back with a Shotgun dropkick to Drew, and the Folding Powerbomb! He covers, and Drew kicks out!
Gunther goes to the top, and here's Sheamus to chop him some more. Sheamus lifts Gunther up and hits White Noise from the top! Sheamus hits the Celtic Cross on Gunther! He covers, and Gunther somehow kicks out.
Sheamus quickly goes into the Cloverleaf submission. Gunther crawls to the ropes, but there's no DQ in Triple Threats! Sheamus pulls him to the middle, and here's Drew with a sleeper hold to Sheamus!
Drew tries for Future Shock to Sheamus, but it's blocked by a knee to the face, and one to Gunther! Sheamus gears up for the Brogue Kick, and it hits on Gunther! He covers, but Drew pulls him out of the Ring! They eye each other, and Sheamus is pissed.
Drew lands some hard punches, and so does Sheamus. They return to the Ring, and Drew elbows him off the apron. Drew with a senton to the outside onto his long time friend!
Back in the Ring, Drew goes for the Claymore, but Sheamus counters with the Brogue Kick! He covers, and Drew is able to kick out! Sheamus looks defeated. Headbutt by Drew, knee by Sheamus, and the Claymore by Drew! Sheamus kicks out again!
Drew and Sheamus throw shots at each other on their knees, and once back to their feet, they throw rapid punches! Another Brogue Kick by Sheamus, and both men are down. He crawls to the cover, but here's Gunther with a splash onto Sheamus!
He powerbombs Sheamus onto Drew's back, and then powerbombs Drew to the mat! He covers, and Gunther is able to win and retain!
Pro Wrestling is sometimes at its very best when the match consists of big beefy people beating the piss out of each other, and that’s what this was. This was a simplistic battle, full of raw power and stiff strikes. It was archaic almost, and that’s why it worked. There didn’t need to be any kind of flashy bullshit here. This was three guys who are known for hitting hard, and on this night, they may have hit the hardest of their careers.
I think Sheamus was the star of the show, as the crowd was super behind him in trying to win his first Intercontinental Championship. McIntyre was almost the spot guy, with his senton to the outside being an absolute highlight. Gunther ruled in this match, as his strikes seemed to have some extra stank on them for this one. This was a brutal showcase, and it’s one of the best triple threat matches you’ll ever see. Very little downtime, and all action. What more can you ask for?