Miz Defends WWE's GUNTHER Booking
The Miz voiced support for how WWE has used GUNTHER on Busted Open Radio amid a feud with Finn Balor and a comedy storyline with Danhausen.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Wrestling
The Miz defended WWE's booking of GUNTHER on Monday's Busted Open Radio. The defense comes as GUNTHER runs parallel storylines with Finn Balor and comedic character Danhausen.
Why it matters
The debate centers on whether GUNTHER's push, which includes retiring Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles, is a sound use of a former World Heavyweight Champion. Ilja Dragunov has publicly questioned the booking, making the direction of the character a live discussion among wrestlers and fans.
GUNTHER has retired Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles across a year and a half, according to the reported storyline record. No date has been announced for the expected singles match with Finn Balor.
The players
The Miz
A veteran WWE personality and former WWE Champion who uses his podcast and radio appearances to comment on the company's creative direction.
GUNTHER
A former World Heavyweight Champion known for his dominant in-ring presence and a current WWE storyline featuring retirements of several major stars.
Finn Balor
A WWE veteran who has reinvented his persona several times, including his Demon character, and is currently feuding with GUNTHER.
The details
On Busted Open Radio on Monday, The Miz voiced his defense of GUNTHER's usage by WWE. Last week on SmackDown, Finn Balor brought back his Demon persona to combat GUNTHER, and a singles match between the two is expected soon.
Timeline
Monday: The Miz appears on Busted Open Radio defending GUNTHER's booking.
Last week: Balor revives his Demon persona on SmackDown to face GUNTHER.
Soon, no date set: A GUNTHER vs. Finn Balor singles match is expected.
Big Picture
GUNTHER's retirement run extends WWE's tradition of using a dominant champion to build marquee showdowns, similar to the Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar era. The public defense of the booking from a veteran like The Miz shows the approach is now being openly debated within the wrestling community.
Fans following WWE will see whether GUNTHER's current storylines with Balor and Danhausen continue to shape the weekly SmackDown and Raw card. The ongoing booking debate may influence which matches are scheduled and how much airtime the feud receives.
The takeaway
Watch for the announcement of a GUNTHER vs. Finn Balor match date to see how WWE plans to resolve the feud. The public debate over GUNTHER's booking shows how much fans and wrestlers value clear, consistent character development.
What happens next
A GUNTHER vs. Finn Balor singles match is expected to take place, though no date has been announced.
Further reading
Explore more Wrestling coverage for the latest on WWE storylines and booking debates.
