Every WWE superstar who has made Gunther tap out

Gunther is one of the most dominant WWE superstars of all time

Gunther is known as the Ring General for a reason. This man is a machine in the ring. He’s chopped through the best and held the WWE Intercontinental Title longer than anyone in modern WWE history. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t flinch, doesn’t quit, and definitely doesn’t tap out.

But even the toughest warriors have their breaking point. And when Gunther finally did tap, it wasn’t just a loss, it was a seismic moment in WWE history.

Only two superstars have ever made Gunther submit inside a WWE ring. One was the intense Ilja Dragunov, who pushed him to the absolute limit in NXT UK.

The other? Jey Uso, who shocked the world at WrestleMania 41 by making the Ring General tap out to his own sleeper hold. That moment sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe and proved that even the most dominant champions can fall.

Ilja Dragunov

llja Dragunov made Gunther (then known as WALTER) tap out on August 22, 2021, at NXT TakeOver 36, ending WALTER’s 870-day reign as NXT United Kingdom Champion.

Their rivalry began in October 2020 on NXT UK, where WALTER defeated Dragunov in a brutal match that left Dragunov haunted by the loss. This defeat fueled Dragunov’s determination, leading to a rematch at NXT TakeOver 36.​

In the highly anticipated rematch, Dragunov withstood WALTER’s punishing offense, including powerbombs and top-rope splashes. Demonstrating incredible resilience, Dragunov locked in a sleeper hold, forcing WALTER to submit for the first time WALTER had tapped out in his WWE career. ​

Jey Uso

​Jey Uso made Gunther tap out on April 19, 2025, during Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, capturing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a shocking opener that sent the WWE Universe into a frenzy. ​

The story began when Jey won the 2025 Royal Rumble, earning the right to challenge any champion at WrestleMania. He chose Gunther, who had been dominating as World Heavyweight Champion with a 259-day reign. Their feud intensified after Gunther attacked Jey’s brother, Jimmy Uso, adding a personal vendetta to the title match.​

At WrestleMania 41, the match started with Gunther asserting his dominance, using his technical prowess to control the early moments. However, Jey’s resilience shone through as he countered Gunther’s offense, delivering three consecutive Uso Splashes. In a surprising turn, Jey applied a sleeper hold, Gunther’s own signature move, forcing the Ring General to submit for the second time in his WWE career. ​

This victory marked Jey Uso’s first World Heavyweight Championship win and solidified his status as a main-event superstar. The moment was celebrated with his brother Jimmy, highlighting the emotional significance of the triumph. ​

For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.