WWE cant miss out on its Gunther-Cody Rhodes chance at Crown Jewel

The Post’s Joseph Staszewski brings you around the world of professional wrestling in his weekly column, the Post Match Angle.It’s Gunther’s time and WWE needs to cement it.It’s why the “Ring General” needs to beat Cody Rhodes to become the inaugural Crown Jewel champion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.While the title itself is basically meaningless — no matter how hard WWE tries to treat it like the Stanley Cup — a victory over Rhodes is not, even if Gunther gets some outside help.We have seen Gunther, 37, truly come into his own as a performer.

He has long been one of the best and most intimidating in-ring workers in the world, but his promo skills have risen to that special level over the past two years.He’s witty, menacing, confident and condescending, all the things you need in a monster heel.

Gunther, currently the World Heavyweight champion, has more than held his own during his compelling promos with the Undisputed WWE champion Rhodes.He can belittle and bully you in a way that can make even the grandest of performers — even one who ended Roman Reigns’ historic reign — feel like the lesser man.

While short, it’s become my favorite feud Rhodes had had since becoming champion.WWE has a shortage of compelling monster heels as they also try to build Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.Gunther is on the path to become the biggest of them all, filling a hole left since Brock Lesnar turned babyface.Gunther has some similar characteristics as a performer to Lesnar, especially the ability to believably impose his will on an opponent during the match, physically and mentally beating you without the need for outside help or shenanigans.It’s why he has to beat Rhodes.

Gunther’s loss to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania was already a slight dent in his armor of invincibility and a defeat at the hands of Rhodes would signal him being the lesser champion — not yet ready to hang with the biggest stars.Beating Gunther does nothing for Rhodes, who ...