Gunther becomes the second WWE King of the Ring in history to parlay his tournament victory into a championship win at SummerSlam.
Gunther defeated Damian Priest to capture his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE SummerSlam 2024 as Judgment Day continues to implode.
Gunther got the victory with a Powerbomb followed by a Rear Naked Choke, but the story was the continued implosion of Judgment Day as Finn Balor came to ringside and put Gunther's foot on the rope following a South of Heaven. Once Priest realized the Betrayal, it became too much of a distraction, and that would cost him the World Championship.
WHY FINN WHY?!#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/U4LCYuhUhu
— WWE (@WWE) August 4, 2024
The Judgment Day has IMPLODED!#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/abJm0MOnwq
— WWE (@WWE) August 4, 2024
Damian Priest was champion for 119 days. He captured the title by cashing in his WWE Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre at WWE WrestleMania XL Sunday. During his time as World Heavyweight Champion, Priest successfully defended the gold against Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins.
Gunther earned this World Championship opportunity by winning the King of the Ring tournament. He became the second champion in history to win the King of the Ring and then followed that by winning the Championship at SummerSlam. The first was Brock Lesnar in 2002.
Gunther looks to have a historic run with this Championship, just as he did with the NXT UK championship, which he held for 870 days, and the WWE Intercontinental Championship, which he held for a record-breaking 666 days.
Things for Judgment Day continued to fall apart at SummerSlam. The show opened with Dominik Mysterio betraying Rhea Ripley and aligning with Liv Morgan to help Morgan retain the Championship over Ripley. Learn more here.
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