Gunther vs Sami Zayn (WWE - 4/6/2024)

Thought the entrances were better than the match for this one. The backstage video of Sami meeting with his wife, his trainer, and Owens one after the other and them hyping him up for his match was a legitimately really good piece of movie making. The actual match was kind of a study in the importance of varying your striking. I have no idea if this is how Gunther normally wrestles, but watching this as my first time seeing him post-Walter it was kind of silly seeing how all that training from Sami culminated in him working a match that was 90% he and his opponent trading overhand chops. Kind of demonstrated why Kobashi and Sasaki didn't just trade chops their whole match and did other stuff, but these guys weren't on par with Kobashi and Sasaki when it came to trading chops to begin with. Ending also felt a little fast and a more prolonged final comeback from Sami could have made his win more impactful. I still enjoyed the match for what it was and I do give them props for at least having good execution on their offense, which is more than I can say for either of the pimped women's matches. Good character work from both guys too.

Very disappointed by this, these are two of my favorite guys. This was neither guy at their best. I want Gunther to be meaner and Sami is at his best when he’s channeling Terry Funk as opposed to mega babyface Triple H designed character.

I like that it was kept to a respectable time but the first half of this match is a slog.

I really liked Gunther's stomps and short-range punts here actually. I agree with the second bold point, even if holistically what they did fit in well enough.