Dave Meltzer & Bryan Alvarez Speculate Over Gunther’s ‘Unusual’ Dark Match Loss to Trick Williams at WWE Raw

As previously reported, WWE US Champion Trick Williams cleanly defeated former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther in a dark match after last night’s WWE Raw went off the air. During today’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the surprising result.

Meltzer speculated there might’ve been something more to the loss, and he and Alvarez addressed whether Gunther’s recent refusal to go to Saudi Arabia for WWE Crown Jewel (via F4WOnline.com). As noted, Gunther and Finn Balor were reportedly slated to wrestle at the event. However, it’s rumored that the matchup didn’t take place as planned because Gunther refused to go. It’s also said Finn Balor wasn’t keen on going to Riyadh, but he would’ve made the trip if Gunther agreed to.

Meltzer observed, “Gunther lost to Trick Williams tonight. Spin kick, Book End, one, two, three. But it’s possible this is all coincidental. Because in a dark match, the babyface does go over. That’s the rule. Usually with a guy at the level of Gunther, they’ll do a run-in and DQ, because they protect the top guys in these types of matches. So there’s probably something to this.”

Alvarez noted his belief that he doesn’t think Gunther has ever been pinned in a singles dark match in WWE. Alvarez stated, “Well, to the best of my knowledge, Gunther has never, until tonight, lost a dark match, a singles dark match, by anything other than DQ. And he has only lost one house show in his entire career on the main roster.”

Alvarez expressed that it was unusual, adding, “So I would say that one way or the other, this is unusual, that he would lose his dark match clean to Trick Williams.”

Alvarez’s claim that Gunther has only lost one house show match in his entire career on the main roster isn’t accurate. Last month, Gunther lost a Street Fight to Cody Rhodes at the WWE Road to Survivor Series: WarGames event in Winnipeg, Canada. In September, Gunther lost a WWE Undisputed Title match against CM Punk during the WWE Mexico Live Tour. His record in non-televised live events this year is 10-22 (h/t Cultaholic Wrestling).

Additionally, it should be noted that last night’s WWE Raw took place in Trick Williams’ hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. Footage of Williams pinning the Ring General can be viewed below:

Trick Williams pinned Gunther clean after RAW ended tonight in the dark match. 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZEGnH8wFkH

— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) November 10, 2026