WWE Survivor Series 2024 Results: Gunther Defeats Damian Priest

Gunther vs. Damian Priest ended the same way at WWE Survivor Series 2024 that it did at SummerSlam—with Gunther standing tall thanks to an assist from Finn Balor.

In the first-ever world title match to take place at both SummerSlam and Survivor Series, “The Ring General” retained his World Heavyweight Championship over Priest after Balor showed up at ringside, hit Priest with a Coup De Grace and then gave Gunther the easy win.

Everyone saw that coming, didn’t they? Well, maybe not Balor’s interference, but unlike LA Knight’s loss, Gunther’s win certainly wasn’t unexpected.

It was, after all, just at SummerSlam that Gunther defeated Priest to win that very same world title, one that he is widely expected to hold well into 2025 and perhaps even beyond WrestleMania 41. Thus far during his brief title reign, Gunther has feuded with some of WWE’s biggest stars, including Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, but his feud with Orton was a short-term one while his rivalry with Rhodes was not for either man’s world title.

WWE, however, is hinting at a massive upcoming feud for Gunther.

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A couple of weeks ago during a backstage segment on Monday Night RawGunther told his sidekick Ludwig Kaiser to “look into my eyes,” a direct and obvious reference to the theme song of none other than CM Punk. Gunther vs. Punk was once reportedly planned for Survivor Series, but of course, that didn’t happen.

It could be coming sooner rather than later, however, with next month’s return of Saturday Night’s Main Event or perhaps February’s Royal Rumble as two possible candidates to host a massive match between Punk and Gunther. The question, though, is whether WWE would want to book that match before WrestleMania, given that it’s difficult to envision either star losing anytime soon.

But regardless of exactly when that feud kicks off or who Gunther’s next opponent is, WWE absolutely must move forward with a more engaging storyline for its World Heavyweight Champion.

Since winning the title in August, Gunther has jumped right back into two old feuds—one with Orton and another with Priest—and then feuded with Rhodes over a meaningless Crown Jewel Championship that resulted in a good match but ultimately a waste of the first-ever bout between two of WWE’s biggest stars.

WWE has still made it clear that Rhodes’ WWE Championship is the most coveted prize in the company, but in its effort to up the prestige of the World Heavyweight title, the creative team took a nice first step in accomplishing that by putting the belt on the dominant Gunther.

Gunther has consistently expressed his desire to treat the world title like the coveted championship it should be, which has also helped the title become more important in the eyes of fans. The next step? A blockbuster and lengthy rivalry that shows just how prestigious the World Heavyweight title is becoming.

Whether that’s against Punk or someone else, WWE—as is the case with Bron Breakker—must build on Gunther’s win at Survivor Series to continue to boost Raw’s World Heavyweight Championship. After all, Raw arguably has a better and deeper roster of top-tier talent than SmackDown currently, but that’s all for naught if the world title and its champion aren’t presented accordingly.

With Priest seemingly reigniting his feud with Balor, Gunther will be on the lookout for yet another dance partner. Let’s hope WWE gives him a worthy one.