Finn Balor & More React To WALTER's WWE Name Change
Several have given their thoughts
Jan 21, 2022
While he had performed in WWE as WALTER for the last three years, including in NXT and on the main roster, Der Ring General's name was changed on the January 18 episode of NXT with WALTER announcing his new name was Gunther following his win over Roderick Strong.
The change received an immediate backlash from fans, especially after it emerged WWE had recently filed to trademark 'Gunther Stark', the name of an officer in the navy of Nazi Germany during World War 2.
WWE have since abandoned the 'Gunther Stark' trademark but the company pressed ahead with amending WALTER's name, officially changing it to Gunther on his WWE.com profile on Wednesday.
Despite the negative response from fans, WWE talent and producers have seemingly rallied behind the name change, with Finn Balor tweeting Gunther: "Everyone hated FINN too!"
WWE Producer Shane Helms also weighed in, noting he believes Gunther will be "just fine."
"In my WWE TV debut, I lost: -My name -My gimmick -My entrance -My entrance song -My finisher -And my WCW Cruiserweight Championship. ALL IN ONE NIGHT. If I survived that, Walter will be just fine," the former Hurricane wrote.
The reaction from those outside of WWE was less kind, though, with Bully Ray tweeting: "Walter RULED!! Gunther SUCKS!!"
Even Virgil gave his thoughts, posting a photo of him with Gunther with the following message: "Walter you need to grow a pair. Seriously you should be embarrassed. Even I who was humiliated as a slave I should have fought harder but this is today. You should know better man. I wish I charged you more for this pic when you begged me for it in the first place."
