Bully Ray Criticizes WWE’s Booking of GUNTHER and AJ Styles
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Wrestling personality Bully Ray has voiced strong criticism regarding a recent segment on the January 5th,2026,episode of WWE Raw,involving GUNTHER and AJ Styles. The segment, which saw Styles slap GUNTHER followed by a face-to-face standoff without retaliation from the latter, has drawn scrutiny for potentially undermining GUNTHER’s established dominance [[1]].
Questioning the Creative Decision
Ray questioned the logic of diminishing GUNTHER’s on-screen presence, especially given his portrayal as a formidable heel. “We’re building all of this heat on GUNTHER, why do we have to sacrifice any of his heat?” he stated during his appearance on Busted Open Radio. He clarified that he wasn’t necessarily advocating for an immediate physical response from GUNTHER, but believed the execution failed to protect the character’s established strength and intimidation factor.
Impact on Character Portrayal
According to Ray, GUNTHER’s lack of reaction made him appear less threatening and even somewhat comical. He argued that a typical heel response – even a display of shock followed by aggression – would have been more effective in maintaining GUNTHER’s menacing persona. “If you have the wherewithal to go head-to-head with AJ Styles, then you would have the wherewithal to choke him out or punch him back… That segment felt odd last night,” ray explained.
The Broader Context: AJ Styles and WWE Storytelling
Ray also considered the segment within the context of AJ Styles’ career trajectory, especially as he enters what is likely the final year of his in-ring performance.He noted Styles’ recent loss of the World Tag Team Championship with Dragon lee and suggested the segment may have been intended to re-establish Styles as a credible singles competitor, potentially as a foil to wrestlers like GUNTHER. However, Ray expressed concern that this was achieved at the expense of GUNTHER’s character.
Babyface Territory and “Giving a Rub”
Ray posited that WWE’s tendency to prioritize babyface (fan-favourite) characters likely influenced the decision. “Ultimately, the WWE will always be a babyface territory. So they probably figured ‘Well,we have enough heat on Gunther,we have to give AJ [a rub]!'” he said. While acknowledging the need to elevate Styles,Ray disagreed with the method,arguing that it unnecessarily weakened GUNTHER in the process.
This critique highlights the ongoing challenge in professional wrestling of balancing the need to build stars while maintaining the integrity of established characters and storylines. The debate underscores the delicate nature of booking decisions and the potential consequences of prioritizing one wrestler’s elevation over another’s established dominance.
Bully Ray Criticizes GUNTHER AJ Styles RAW Segment