Gunther Compares His WWE Style To Paolo Maldini

When you think of Gunther you might think of his decimation of the WWE roster, his record breaking Intercontinental Championship run, or his chest caving chops. You may even think of AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, because why wouldn’t you.

Gunther spoke with The Athletic about the beautiful game - alongside several other WWE superstars - and was asked to compare himself to a player, with Gunther opting for ‘Il Capitano’:

“I would say someone like Paolo Maldini. Not a Cristiano Ronaldo, not a standout flashy superstar - that’s more Cody Rhodes. I’m someone who is a bit more quiet, does his job, and builds a good foundation for the team.”

Maldini is recognised as one of the greatest football players of all time, and during a 25 year spell with Milan won seven Serie A league titles, and the European Cup/Champions League five times. In terms of style of play, whilst a case could be made that Gunther’s title laden career and steely perseverance does share similarities with Maldini, it could be argued that he is also like Maldini’s former Milan team-mate Clarence Seedorf, with both men having achieved greatness wherever they’ve plied their trade, with a knack for dictating the tempo or style of play of their matches. Seedorf was also known for powerbombing opponents at the drop of a hat (he wasn't).