GUNTHER: Wrestling Observer Live

[@BerndosMusic]

To quote Moxley & probably everyone: "Why do they have to fck up E-VE-RY-THING"

[@chinafuture6484]

Like how Mox fcked up his liver?

[@nateamstutz2]

@@chinafuture6484 damn..

[@angeldelgado5110]

@@chinafuture6484 E-Drone

[@minimalchill]

@@chinafuture6484 Wow. Good taste bud. 🙄

[@PizzaguyJeff]

@@chinafuture6484 I know being a teenager is hard, but you don't have to be like this, son. There's a better way.

[@metfan4l]

One can only imagine what Mustafa Ali's new gimmick was supposed to be that actually made him quit...

[@santanu-fr]

holy shit you might be right

[@hamdanramli57]

I am willing to bet they were planning to go full muhamad hassan on ali's gimmick. Sarray is getting a typical japanese high school gimmick and walter became a nazi officer. This company is going 30 years backwards.

[@bladestormviking]

the promo is out there on youtube. they wanted ali to pull ye olde "in my new america, you are the one who's name is too hard to pronounce, you are the interloper, you are the one who doesn't belong"

[@ElhajMahmoud]

@@bladestormviking probably end up having him wanting to implement sharia law or something bc that’s what I’d imagine wwe do

[@alexmonro1711]

It was gonna end with Ali stoning Stephanie to death for sleeping with Triple H

[@iswipergosnipin8656]

It's funny that Bryan's example perfectly described the "submission sorority"

[@ebv6939]

Oh man. I had forgotten all about that. 🤦‍♂️

[@harveycryst222]

"People don't forget!"

[@JenMistress]

Yeah, it was when Bryan mentioned Jenna Jameson that reminded me of that. So, this is nothing new with this company. 😂🤣😂🤣

[@michaelsinger4638]

Paige realized it. She tried to tell them beforehand. And WWE ignored her of course.

[@gg.gama666]

There's another Sky Blue too, just saying

[@InspectorSpacetime333]

I just imagine every WWE mishap as a series of Arrested Development plot lines and it frankly helps.

[@kennyjones1282]

I’ve made a huge mistake…

[@mkultra2773]

This is the best thing I've read all week.

[@j_delay4691]

hahahahaha brilliant

[@jamessteward3011]

Waiting for someone to blue themselves.

[@JeremyBearimy913]

There's always money in the Goldberg stand!!!

[@wilcee675]

Remember back in the day when Vince promised to inject a lethal poison into his company and destroy his own creation? Took him long enough.

[@shivamsingh-lb1mg]

NXT is not his creation.

[@wilcee675]

​@@shivamsingh-lb1mgNXT 2.0 is. WWE is.

[@markustillman7271]

Remember him and John Cena segment " nigga" ???

[@t2p]

@@markustillman7271I still maintain Booker is a bitch for not clocking him right there and then …imagine living with that shit ..and it’s on camera

[@markustillman7271]

@@t2p yea but you know Booker is a house man for him ....look when Triple H went on some bullshit then after all that pinned him and made him look even worse ...I just dont understand how you can sabotage your own business when you can make so much more $$$....I guess being filthy rich with power, over rides mental illness 🤕

[@christopheraaron8299]

It's a safe bet Walter (Gunther) will be released by WWE in 2022. And Vince will be like "Why is this guy that was already over not getting over after we needlessly changed his name for no reason! He's gotta go!"

[@DodongosCavern]

You just said Vince knew Walter was over which is most likely not the case. Vince hasn't been in touch with his audience since 1984.

[@Farts911]

@@DodongosCavern If Vince thought he wasn't over at all then he wouldn't have had him have a scripted stare off spot in a survivor series match, let alone even have him in one.

[@DodongosCavern]

@@Farts911 Walter was the NXT UK Champion and Vince probably had H put together the top stars of his brand. Vince then had Walter jobbed out in 5 minutes in the Survivor Series match.

[@minimalchill]

@@Farts911 stare offs don’t matter when 5 minutes later you’re out of the match.

[@msoileau83]

Agreed.

[@ChessJew]

Everything Vince touches dies.

[@markustillman7271]

He doesn't have to touch it to die man

[@jasonjimerson7046]

This wasn't Vince's idea... it was Bruce Pritchard's idea.

[@spiritofthewolf1880]

@@jasonjimerson7046 Nick Khan, Bruce Prichard, Vince McMahon... Does it really matter at this point? They all need to go.

[@dylanobedear]

The Anti Midas

[@Renodrums-vq8nv]

@@spiritofthewolf1880 WWE got rid of so much people that help build WWE. JR, Jim Johnston, Gerald Brisco, William Regal. Now it's all finally catching up to Vince and the ship is finally starting to sink.

[@StevenChungTop10]

I genuinely wouldn't be opposed to fans hijacking the show like they did for Bryan Danielson & chant "WALTER" every show now. I would not be against it at all.

[@jfh.8064]

If this was old NXT they might. But the NXT 2.0 crowd is just kind of… there. They typically cheer and boo things that they are supposed to and don’t do out of place chants.

[@antc1705]

The 2.0 crowd is paid. Not happening unfortunately

[@BSultimate]

They could also start chanting Rex Steiner

[@StevenChungTop10]

@@BSultimate I'll give Bron Breakker this: At least he's not named after a NAZI.

[@milk_bath]

Even better idea, stop watching and stop going to events. There is better content to enjoy.

[@jacobdonnelly27]

Walter is named after a Nazi, Wendy Choo wrestles in Pajamas, and Sarray is now an anime school girl. Bruce and Vince's NXT everyone!

[@jfh.8064]

Don’t forget we have a poker player, an Italian mobster, country boys, sexy women in bikinis, a daddy’s girl, a possessed Chinese man, and a skater chick.

[@shikikkaneddy]

@@jfh.8064 Hey hey hey hey At least one of those things sounds good to me

[@juliooquendo220]

Damm this is like the 80s or 90s again

[@hopefulelectoftheng2819]

@@jfh.8064 Sports Entertainment at its finest 😂

[@rickhaavisto9023]

@@shikikkaneddy Yeah, you thinking Tony DeAngelo too?

[@lawrence142002]

"You know Gunther is a common German name..." SO IS WALTER!

[@Kr4ShSkeL]

@@pepschp5355 ofc it't more fitting for an austrian, BECAUSE IT'S HIS REAL FN NAME

[@lighteningleke3228]

you just know that Jim cornette is going to have a heart attack, Walter is his fav wrestler currently. I cannot wait to hear what he has to say about it.

[@krim7]

Walter was a GOAT and they fucked him up!

[@bladestormviking]

and corny has been trying to cast him as a nazi officer since the first time he saw walter.

[@albalog2449]

@PennyArcade Cornette has Austrian roots, you're saying?

[@garyslackjaw]

Not that on the nose though, he was just saying he had an authoritarian vibe and ww2 fascist stylings to lean into, you didn't have to put him in the actual real life regalia and give him a nazi name. Corny never petitioned that.

[@jfh.8064]

I said and knew it years ago, that if WALTER ever went to the main roster (which he didn’t, but now he’s under Prichard etc same thing) they would immediately see him as the next Vladimir Kozlov. And what confirmed it was during his unstoppable championship run, they had him on the main roster once for Survivor Series, where he was in the match for 5 minutes and then got pinned first after a Claymore. That said it all.

[@jrspires72]

Can we just begin with the fact HE'S AUSTRIAN?!

[@ravanpee1325]

@@jrspires72 Yes, and they just gave him a Nazi gimmick - in US perception - although not every German soldier was a Nazi (= member of the party or hardcore ideologist)

[@battousaithekingslayer9913]

@@jrspires72 this gimmick and name was picked purposely anyone who thinks different is insane it’s no coincidence a Austrian is named after a nazi soldier

[@krodriguez0055]

The really discerning thing is that Roderick and Walter had a GREAT match. It was fantastic. But its overshadowed by the name change, and the name change is equally bad as the match was great

[@Nihilus_Outis]

This is one of the reasons I stopped watching WWE. It's so stupid that sometimes hurts.

[@DrDestructo]

Ah yes, you have an established star with an established name. Now to take it to the next level: make him start all over again, with a different name you didn't bother to research was infamous or not.

[@richmb904]

2022 - WALTER changes his name to GUNTHER 2023 - GUNTHER makes his Raw debut, repackaged as Riddle's smoking buddy, BLUNTER

[@ricosuave7053]

Blunther*

[@erikcribley5271]

That would be pretty cool actually.

[@JPeeper]

Ignore the name being a former Nazi, why in the hell would you change Walter's name when he is over as Walter, Mike is 100% right. Within 6 months Gunther will be gone and Walter will be destroying guys in AEW.

[@Cboz1978]

He doesn't want WWE having a trademark on it. It's smart by him if things do go well and we all know that can happen. Having a plan B is smart on his part. This is why the common fan is dumb.

[@andreucunill41]

@@Cboz1978 walter is his real name, and as I understand they cant trademark his real name. So maybe, idk, do not be full of yourself and treat others as idiots?

[@kingbookaworld3534]

WWE logic: If we have a kid Google Chyna's name what will they find? Also WWE logic: Hey Walter...thinking of a name change...

[@Cboz1978]

Well it's just Gunther so yeah nice try.

[@ktownshutdown21]

Also WWE logic: "Chyna can't be in the HoF, but hey let's Google what Sunny has been up to recently..."

[@ceejayjones2567]

@@ktownshutdown21 tbf most of Sunny's behavior happened well after her induction.

[@Vesperitis]

The problem wasn't that they trademarked the name 'Gunther Stark'. The problem wasn't that they gave an Austrian the name 'Gunther Stark'. The problem wasn't that they gave a an Austrian who already had an established and recognized brand the name 'Gunther Stark'. The problem wasn't that they gave an Austrian wrestler whose gimmick, aesthetics, and music heavily invoked Nazi iconography the name 'Gunther Stark'. The problem was that they did ALL OF THAT. THAT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF INCOMPETENCE.

[@trtx84]

I refuse to believe they didn't look in to it first. They knew, they just don't care.

[@Cboz1978]

@@trtx84 We all act like this guy was Hitler's right hand man. He was likely even barely a Nazi if that.

[@peterlee6374]

The only problem was they changed his name, THATS it Everyone’s going they gave him a famous nazi name, they guy barely did anything he had two missions ( boat sunk and died on the second one ) and didn’t kill anyone Should wwe have changed it from Walter?? No as it was already a established name even within wwe

[@XombieLejon66]

I can't wait till they put him in lederhosen. And turn him into Uter from The Simpsons

[@Schmuddel]

WWE doesn't get that the days of them changing a wrestler's name specifically to hurt his drawing power if he goes elsewhere are over. Everyone who left WWE for AEW like Bryan Danielson and John Moxley did not suffer at all from going back to their old names. There's not a soul on earth who will call him Gunther, let alone chant it.

[@shikikkaneddy]

You underestimate the power of the WWE machine Guaranteed 50 to 60% of the audience will be beaten into submission and will accept GUNTHER by the time SummerSlam comes along

[@sty886]

As someone who got into wrestling recently after seeing the walter v Dragunov matches, this hurts. Mainly because we all know it is just the beginning of the changes

[@stewartfennell8926]

Why couldn't they just leave it alone? i hate when they change names and entrance music that i like....

[@sty886]

@@stewartfennell8926 the best I can offer on that is they want control. They don't own the trademark on walter, so they changed it so they own the name. The other stuff they do however, I have no idea why that happens

[@stewartfennell8926]

@@sty886 No wonder he wanted to stay in NXT uk.

[@ahmeddemha6112]

.....The reboot and the firing of most of Triple H’s inner circle wasn’t the beginning?

[@aggrodkreg4321]

@@ahmeddemha6112 that was a warmup

[@rj5822]

Fans: Change Breakker to Steiner WWE: we hear you, and we’ll give you a name change. Say goodbye to Walter say hello to Gunther Fans: 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@khesipresents1885]

why dont those dumb fans say wwe change seth rollins to colby lopez or roman to joe anoahi

[@Cboz1978]

Tell Bron you want his named changed, he chose it.

[@Cboz1978]

@@khesipresents1885 If Terry Boulder changed his name to Hulk Hogan in this era you'd never hear the end of it.

[@khesipresents1885]

@@Cboz1978 at this point its a meme to shit on wwe and anything they do..sometimes to the point its ridiculous.....they wouldnr accept name like edge,the rock too..but apparently they are fine with hook or malakai black

[@greystrangr]

The funnier part to me is Stark just means Strong in German. So it was Strong vs Strong

[@NZeroKurosaki]

I’m just curious on why he can’t be Walter anymore. I thought Walter was intimidating already and he established it. They usually name changes someone before they debut.

[@Vesperitis]

They're trying to trademark a new name because 'Walter' isn't owned by them.

[@DarthTach]

Because he though WWE stars are Independent Contractors, Vince and Co. want to control every single aspect of their careers in order to make every single cent they can.

[@XhoowieX]

@@Vesperitis which it's crazy that they can trademark this name anyway. Can somebody trademark Himmler if they're rich enough?

[@Nediablo]

Hans Stark? Gunther Hahn? Franz Gruber? Any other stereotypical name they could have used but they didn't check this one?!

[@Vesperitis]

@@XhoowieX Technically, if the name is used to indicate a product (i.e. Tesla the car vs Tesla the man), and nobody else holds the rights, you can trademark names like 'Himmler'. The question is why would you WANT to trademark that name?

[@Treznor331]

Gunther Stark...... Are you fucking serious!!! That company needs to just go away. Absolutely ridiculous.

[@XombieLejon66]

At that point just call him Adolf Goebbels.

[@JT-fz2xy]

Tony con needs to own every wrestler in the world!

[@peterlee6374]

Yeah like you knew who that was last week

[@Cboz1978]

It's just Gunther relax with your fake outrage.

[@ricosuave7053]

@@Cboz1978 Just Gunther lol So much more intimidating

[@co81385]

I wish that we could hear Oreo the Orca's thoughts on this!

[@ekmad]

MINUS 5 BLOWHOLES

[@jonpower9728]

I don't know what I'm going to do. There's no plan." F4W takes after the WWE style of organizing.

[@virulentrose]

To be fair, when you have to make a radio show about a company who's given characters with Arabic birthplaces terrorist gimmicks, a stereotypical and racist japanese schoolgirl gimmick for one of their most talented female wrestlers, and the name of a FUCKING NAZI to the former longest reigning champion in modern wrestling history... Yeah. I'd probably have no plan too.

[@PaulReed]

At least F4W is entertaining and worth watching.

[@warrenwallsjr.2564]

as soon as I heard the name change I was just waiting for Bryan's response and I wasn't disappointed

[@shariffsingh8593]

The Jenna Jameson comparison killed me lol

[@DuctTapeSloth]

When Dragunov comes over will they rename him Stalin!?

[@ravanpee1325]

Dragunov already has the sowjet anthem as a theme

[@bcurtis363]

No one would actually care because they can’t yell nazi

[@bcurtis363]

They are both obviously supposed to be ww2 gimmicks imo

[@ravanpee1325]

@@bcurtis363 Yeah, but come on ...a nazi gimmick in an elimation chamber match in 2022..so many alarm bells. McMahon, Dunn and Pritchard have no morals and are completly nuts.

[@ricosuave7053]

Dragunov looks more like an Edward Pujangles

[@zachscott5420]

“Listen there were a lot of nazis”- Bryan Alvarez 2022

[@RiderLeangle2]

For a company that went out of their way to say "Well what if someone searched her online, what kind of results would come up" as their way of justifying keeping Chyna out of the hall of fame while she was alive, they sure don't search anything online

[@mickmcmonagle4664]

💯 And the same bullshit rationale for dropping Matt riddles first name

[@GNARLY_91]

WWE isnt wrestling, you should honestly just stop covering them lol

[@Az__T]

@Cold Snap W orld W ont E njoy Ain't that the truth..

[@MissterX]

What is it, ballet?

[@gunnerbeckering6159]

Fans: “how longs Bryan gonna rant on THIS one?🤣” Bryan: “I don’t know what I’m gonna do..” Proceeds to release a free 14 minute video of him ranting

[@yellowscarlightningscream8347]

The best thing of 2022

[@postreading6889]

Bryan showing his age with the iconic adult film reference. Still waiting for an Abella Danger character to slip onto WWE programming

[@benespinosa6725]

I'm so happy that I don't watch NXT Anymore Because it's just another Episode of Monday Night Raw but on Wednesday nights This show has Fallen off a Cliff ever since the Relaunch.

[@chriscothron3606]

How would you know if you don’t watch it ?

[@BlowingSmoke247]

@@chriscothron3606 hes right he doesnt watch because he doesnt realize that NXT is on Tuesdays now lol NXT 2.0 is the drizzling shits lol

[@benespinosa6725]

@@chriscothron3606 just watch the show and you'll know why.

[@benespinosa6725]

@@BlowingSmoke247 it's basically a Re-Run Of Monday Night Raw.

[@alexanderweston5205]

I've been waiting all day for this.

[@Just-Michael]

As a musician, you 100% have to google any new name you come up with for your band or project. Every time. When people type in your name, you want to be the first result. You don't want to have 30 bands with the same name and fans not know which one is yours. You check EVERY TIME. It's not difficult. XD

[@Pacmenace]

Regarding the point about googling the name, they did have a stable named after a porn series (Submission Sorority) for a few weeks. This seems par for the course.

[@trtx84]

And I'm guessing then, like now, it was totally intentional because Vince knows exactly who his audience is.

[@jaymaledic5730]

Yes, WWE googled the name. There's no way they didn't, that's the first thing you do when applying for trademark (to see if it's already taken). And yes, they pushed forward anyway for this exact reason - controversy.

[@karlm641]

They’re going to do another Rusev with him here. It’s the standard Vince wanting to bring him in serious then put him in comedy angles in a few months after ruining him

[@MaehiyaSOLDIER]

Bryan: Nine nine nine nine nine nine nine My mind: NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN

[@dkmenace1990]

Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard were listening to the Ding Dong Song when they decided on the name.

[@juliooquendo220]

Yeah vince and Bruce would say "gunter is a cool name and the kids will like him. He is down with the kids."

[@XombieLejon66]

@@juliooquendo220 oh yeah. That name certainly is down with a subset of certain European kids from the 1940's.

[@juliooquendo220]

@@XombieLejon66 i don't like that name ANYWAY. Walter should have been kept

[@sirprintalot]

I was looking forward to Bryan rant about this.

[@Radman1889]

It took one day for them to take a guy who had some of the best WWE matches in years, and absolutely RUIN him with that name change.

[@Cboz1978]

And if this was his idea? Seems like he had the name in mind for at least 2-3 years according to Kyle O'Reilly's tweet.

[@Radman1889]

@@Cboz1978 Then I lost all respect for him

[@ricosuave7053]

I was watching NXT like "Ok, they better not fuck Walter up" Then they fuck him up lol

[@Dev1lsS0ldiel2]

The countdown to his release has begun.

[@kayskreed]

He just got the "Bear Cat" and "Viking Experience" treatment. Vince always loved to play with the foreign heel stereotypes. It was likely deliberate assuming it was his idea.

[@MagicBavarian]

It's not just the Nazi association. Since the 50s, no parent in their right mind has named their child Günther. Same for Walter tbf, but that name has at least somewhat of a connotation of a tall, strong dude. Günther sounds like a random 60 year old who collects stamps...

[@peterlee6374]

There’s a author called Gunther starks, he released a book in 2020 Look at Facebook there’s young people called Gunther or Gunter on there

[@MagicBavarian]

@@peterlee6374 Umh yeah, I've never met a Günther younger than 40 in my life. I think that says more than a look at Facebook. And the only Günther Stark alive I could find is an 82 year old scientist, not really proving your point :D

[@Evil_Peter]

The guy's actual name is Walter so it's weird to make a point about that no one names anyone that since the 50s.

[@MagicBavarian]

@@Evil_Peter In Germany that is, and it feels like they were going for a stereotypical German. But Walter is more common than Günther, that's true

[@zaheerdawood3814]

Brian low key let out in which era he last watched porn....and who his favorite star was 🤣

[@TheSaxon.]

The best manager Central Perk ever had.

[@TheTsugnawmi2010]

Let's change Becky's last name to 'Bandini'. I'm sure that won't cause controversy with a simple Google Search. I'm sure that won't turn her daughter into a laughing stock when she says, "My Mum is Becky Bandini and her finishing move is called the 'Man Slam'".

[@CoryTheRaven]

I'm looking forward to the return of the "Ring Kampf" tag and renaming The Imperium into "Das Reich."

[@simonturner1]

I look forward to being reminded of this again in the Best Of 2022.

[@jansapp]

it's kind of like the Friends episode where Joey unwittingly changes his stage name to Joseph Stalin

[@mr.2x.t288]

Apparently he’s this Russian dictator who SLAUGHTERED all these people! You’d think YOU woulda known that!

[@marvelmania7283]

Gunther is NOT a common name. Günter or Günther is. I was born raised and live in Austria (the country where Walter is from) and I know of ZERO people that are alive named Gunther. It's an old timey name. Like people that could be Walters great grand parents. I know Walter since he started out training. I find this new name BS.

[@puddingcatsteamboat6393]

just let Walter be Walter, even if he wasn’t being renamed after a nazi, it’s just a bad idea and a stupid name (apology to any Gunthers out there, it’s just my opinion) what’s terrifying though is i can only see them doing this because they have main roster plans for him and that, that could end very badly 😨

[@Cboz1978]

Ask Walter that. It was likely his idea.

[@puddingcatsteamboat6393]

@@Cboz1978 i mean Gunther might have been the name he chose but i doubt it was his idea to change his name to begin with. then again maybe i’m wrong just because you’re a great wrestler doesn’t mean everything you do is smart.

[@greatestever3540]

Maybe someone already answered but why did they change his name in the first place ?

[@rookierook99]

DYK: There was a character in Cartoon Network's Adventure Time named "Gunther", a penguin who often acts as an assistant to the Ice King (then again, he calls EVERY penguin "Gunther"). AFAIK, nobody really complained about the name itself.

[@trtx84]

Because they didn't trademark "Gunther Stark." That's the problem. The name they came up with was a Nazi, and they trademarked it anyway. And then the blowback came and they just dropped the last name like that'll make people forget.

[@michaeltom637]

Can someone please explain to me how an independent contractor can be copyrighted for the use of their stage name, creative work, and brand? How is this allowed to happen?

[@Yeonoson]

Different company, (that's now dead), but WCW had a similar situation with The Ultimate Solution, originally called The Final Solution. Now, there was no google at the time but it's weird these situations keep popping up...

[@albalog2449]

I did have dial-up at the time, and from what I recall, The Final Solution (Jeep Swenson) turned down a WCW contract in March 1996 to star as Bane in the then-upcoming Batman & Robin movie. On his last PPV appearance, they called him The Ultimate Solution.

[@Yeonoson]

@@albalog2449 Huh, I have google today and I didn't know that.

[@nickhartwell8053]

There is a difference between a German soldier, who was also a Nazi, and a German soldier in WW2. They are not one and the same thing. Gunther Stark was a mildly famous German U-Boat commander, not a famous Nazi ( to my knowledge). By the wrestling media definition, every single person who was German in WW2 was a full-blown Nazi and everything that tag implies. I just thought it's important to point out there is a significant difference. People are behaving like he's been renamed 'Adolf Hitler' I do, however, think changing WALTER'S name is ridiculous. And if you're going to change it, it's best to avoid any name associated with anyone who may bring on this reaction, which was always going to happen in this case. Stupid by WWE.

[@antc1705]

Thank you Mike WWE is a sloppy shop

[@spiritofthewolf1880]

More like a dumpster fire.

[@infesticon]

The way Bryan says "Nazi" cracks me up.

[@andreepacheco7980]

One month ago, I thought Walter Would be World Champion by the end of the year. Now, I think he'll be released by the end of the year.

[@PatrickTCAPIreland]

Is he going to tag with Hirohito (Kenzo Suzuki)?

[@victorolosaurus]

as a German, I would not hang the nazi stuff too far up until it's supported by the gimmick (which I fear it will be ultimately). Mainly because that guy was a mid-level military person, not someone particular notorious for anything really. Of course he turns up because he was a commander and there is a wikipedia article on every ship and every battle and standards and practices HAVE to catch that beforehand and never allow it. There are more issues, because this is a terrible name: 1) Gunther is not a "common German" name, never was. In Walter's age bracket it would be rare (and across ages the variant that would be less obscure is Günther [also the Uboat guy's name WAS Günther]) both in Germany and Austria (as would Walter to some extent, but that's the guy's actual name). 2) Gunther Stark is a terrible name because you either force the guy to say his own name wrong (as it would be Goonter Shtark) or you have a rather large distance between his pronounciation and what american audience would think. Walter / Vult-err is fairly close. If you establish Gunther in a German way (Goonterr) it has ZERO oomph, the English way might work as a fighting name because gun etc. but that very much is not his name 3) Friends 4) So your main event of your show was Roderick Strong vs Gunther Stark? Why not directly call everyone Max Power? (In case this is not clear: stark means strong in German). So in general, my feelings as a German without googling etc. would be less "they made him a nazi" (which they probably did), but more "German Adrian Neville"

[@Kingofweasles]

Surprise, surprise; Another guy Triple H championed gets hired to be a regular fixture on American TV (In this case NXT 2.0), only to get his name changed from what everybody called him FOR THE LAST DECADE into something generic as shit... Mark my words, the man formerly-known-as WALTER is only here to be cannon fodder to Braun Breaker, collect a paycheck and retire with dignity.

[@ricosuave7053]

If he goes to the main roster, they will take away all of his dignity lol

[@k.f.z.318]

I am from Germany and i just feel embarresed...

[@David-vv5sb]

8:06 Bryan with his famous Adolf H. impression

[@goodtimeskb4343]

What's really funny is that the tube recommended the HIAC 2019 rant yesterday before nxt aired. That rant keeps aging like fine wine.

[@ytfvr9705]

How are they going to top this

[@herringstheseries]

10:28 Damn, Mike went in and brought receipts.

[@pixelforge4858]

do they screen the signs people bring into arenas? or will people be bringing in signs with swastikas on them for when this guy comes out?

[@UnsilencedOutspokenTikTok]

His momma named him Walter imma call him Walter

[@unfixingbowl5454]

Missing HHH big time

[@Cubeforc3]

Going from HHH to HH

[@zackerychapman7193]

I think the name change is dumb, but idk who this Natzi is? I feel like Hitler and Mangala are the ones most remember. Plus like you said his name doesn't show up right away now on google. If they named someone Hitler they wouldn't be able to "bump" Hitler's name off the top page. Idk i just think the name Gunther is dumb more than I'm offended by the other name.

[@MarsofAritia]

mangala? lmao what?

[@mttyler]

I mean I don’t know anything about trademarking but I’d assume you’d have to google the name to check it’s not already trademarked or in use somewhere right?

[@Headbanger142]

"Gunter, why did you gunt my fries???"

[@SogenOkami]

I could be wrong but I think Gunther was the name of the You Touched My Tralala song as well.

[@SuperSubject20]

It’s so obvious that they just google german soldier/ nazi names, put them in a list, and went with one that sounded the most menacing. Sloppy shop is right.

[@Timmy101]

Love the Vinny segment being included at the end 😀

[@adambarber4697]

Why doesn't WWE just use the Walter name and just add Stark as the last name?

[@christopheriverson7103]

This is great and hilarious.....put the world title on Mr Gunther😅👍🏽...real shit, guy is a beast...

[@essdeeluckof893]

Can’t wait LA knight is renamed Tim MCvay

[@42PalaceOfWisdom42]

Since it is distracting from he real issue it is importend to point out that Günther Stark is absolutely NOT infamous and doesn't come right up when you google him. He hasn't even a Wikipedia article, unlike dozens of actually well known WW2 uboat captains (some even also called Günther), and a theatre intendant of the same name. One of the articles must have dug him up to spice up the story. Its just a generic old fashioned name (Stark means strong), still fairly common The real problem is booking a stable of brown shirts in your wrestling company! Its offensive, no matter if you call him Günther, Helmut or Walter(which, by the same standards isnt an intainted name either).

[@eastwaters4082]

Bryan explained that the U-boat commander search is a few pages back now because WWE's searches come up first since its related.

[@42PalaceOfWisdom42]

@@eastwaters4082 It wasn't any different before, you'll get LinkedIn profiles before the uboat guy. Point is he was an "also-ran" with a generic name, not well known.

[@RawPiece98]

Unbelievable that Vince, along with probably Bruce, thought that changing WALTER's name to GUNTHER was a good idea. I really hope they don't make him start speaking German. He's Austrian not German.

[@peterlee6374]

You mean Walter Hahn Good job his name isn’t the name of a nazi soldier or anything………

[@RawPiece98]

@@peterlee6374 nah dude fair. I didn't do my research

[@trevorfeelgood]

What was wrong with Walter ?

[@johnmancini4403]

Vince is rumored to be changing AJ Styles name to William Quantrill

[@Absynthe23]

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the name Gunther is that penguin from Adventure Time. I'm never taking Walter seriously again.

[@dennett316]

Disregard the Nazi connection, (I know, but bear with me), but what's the reason for this guy to suddenly just change his name after years in the company? What's the odds on them just not coming up with one and they pretend he was always Gunther. Besides even that though...Gunther sucks as a name in comparison to WALTER. It has no gravitas, it sounds cuddly and friendly, distinctly un-WALTER-like.

[@Andre-jb2er]

Here in italy in 2022 we are back in the 1920's with the Super Green Pass

[@Antonicane]

Vince really said to himself, "I know what this NXT needs to stay fresh and current: do everything like the cartoonish one-dimensional gimmicks we did in the early 90's when our product was failing badly." Honestly, kinda surprised they didn't bring Baron Von Ruthless out of the mouthballs. "Oh, but it was Walter that suggested the name." Yeah, maybe, but at the end of the day it's still the creative team, and most of all, VInce who has final say. They made the decision to change the name and throw away an established brand that Walter has built over the years, and they're the ones who decide what that new branding should be. The buck stops with them.

[@dolandarkxgrandayy6953]

At least everybody is unique, that's the one complement you can give to NXT 2.0 guys. That's something you can't say about AEW because like 50% of the Roster is I do moves and am small.

[@Antonicane]

@@dolandarkxgrandayy6953 The WrestleCrap website is full of wrestlers with 'unique' gimmicks, it didn't make any of them any fucking good. And if you're trying to argue that Walter wasn't unique enough just being Walter, just don't even bother, 'cuz that's just objectively wrong.

[@dolandarkxgrandayy6953]

@@Antonicane tell me the difference from a character perspective between Dante Martin, Jake Atlas, Lee Moriarty, Lee Johnson, And Wheeler Yuta.

[@Antonicane]

@@dolandarkxgrandayy6953 Nice goalpost moving. Almost like you deliberately picked underdeveloped mid-carders who haven't carved out a larger-than-life personality because they're still in the process of figuring it out, and most of their appeal rn is based on their ring skills. But I can be insincerely reductive too, so I'll tell you what, name me one distinctive character trait of, let's say, LA Knight without using either his job or physical appearance.

[@TheMetalmicah57]

I somehow forgot about the Kenzo Suzuk gimmick. That's incredibly fucked

[@wendigockel]

To be fair, Günther is a common German first name and Stark is a common German last name. Günther Stark is an unremarkable name that doesn't exactly scream "Superstar"!

[@xShoTime83x]

This.

[@En4cer2K9]

0:20 WHATCHA GONNA DO?

[@chestercooperpotscha]

2:08 ....just perfect

[@stewartfennell8926]

His gimmick can be that he batters anyone that laughs at his name, which is everyone...

[@TubbyJ420]

Now i need to go listen to that Gunther song: OOH YOU TOUCH MY TRA LA LA. MMM MY DING DING DONG🎶

[@ZakuIIX]

Where’s Adolph ziggler when you need him