GUNTHER is completely comfortable being one of WWE’s most hated stars, and during a conversation with Enry Lazza, the Ring General opened up about why he enjoys getting negative reactions from fans and why his intimidating WWE persona is not far removed from who he really is.
The discussion started when Lazza admitted that, as a longtime John Cena fan, he currently hates GUNTHER — but meant that as the highest compliment possible because it proves he is doing his job correctly as a villain. GUNTHER agreed and explained that not every wrestler enjoys getting genuine heel heat from the crowd.
“It is. It’s like and I feel like it’s a struggle that a lot of my colleagues sometimes have where they struggle to get negative reactions like it’s because it cannot feel nice. But I enjoy it. I have to say I like I like to be the one that creates chaos and stirs the pots and uh yeah that worked out really well with John.”
GUNTHER then spoke about the intimidating presence he carries on WWE television and whether his character is completely different from who he was growing up as WALTER.
According to GUNTHER, his WWE persona is actually very close to who he is in real life because the character is rooted in realism rather than being overly theatrical or exaggerated.
“Uh yeah, growing up obviously because you well when you grow up you’re a weird little teenager doing dumb [__] But I feel like it’s it’s not too far because what I am in the ring like the characters like you have guys where it’s almost like two different people. Yeah. I feel like I’m my character is not that crazy or that out of pocket.”
GUNTHER explained that the entire idea behind his character has always been to present himself as a dominant professional wrestler who completely controls the environment once he steps into the ring.
“I just always wanted to be character-wise. My character is basically be a professional wrestler and be a dominating professional wrestler that controls the ring that makes his own calls.”
He also revealed that he often compares the feeling he wants to create in wrestling to Germany’s infamous World Cup destruction of Brazil, where one side became so dominant that the match was almost uncomfortable to watch.
“And I always tried to compare it. Actually, that’s the thing because I grew up with with the only sport I grew up with was football. I played it for a long time and and I always looked at like who can I look at there that when he came on the field, people went like, ‘Oh, that’s it. I don’t want to play against that guy.’”
“And I always compared what I wanted to achieve just feeling wise. I always compared it to like the game Germany had against Brazil at the World Cup where they just beat them and don’t stop beating them.”
“It became where it’s like yeah it became uncomfortable almost watching that and I still remember it to that day and I looked back at that so many times and it’s like if that’s something I can I’m able to bring to the wrestling ring be like that almost overwhelming force and opposition to my opponent. Yeah. Then I achieved a lot.”
GUNTHER has built one of WWE’s most dominant presentations around that philosophy, creating a villain that fans genuinely react to while keeping the character grounded in realism instead of relying on over-the-top gimmicks.
What do you think about GUNTHER’s approach to being a WWE villain? Do realistic characters work better in wrestling today? Leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
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