WWE
SmackDown star Gunther has revealed whether or not WWE pressured him to lose weight, ahead of his main roster call-up.
The former WALTER officially joined the Blue Brand on the April 8 episode, along with Ludwig Kaiser, fka Marcel Barthel. Ahead of Gunther’s NXT departure, many fans pointed out that the former NXT UK Champion had slimmed down, leading to speculation that WWE had made him lose weight.
A recent report also indicated that WWE higher-ups wanted Gunther to drop some pounds before arriving on SmackDown.
Speaking with Sport1 Gunther stated that he decided he wanted to present himself differently. Debunking rumors that he went on a cut for Vince McMahon, Gunther said:
“No, that’s completely wrong. At WWE, nobody said anything to me, it was completely my own initiative. For me it was quite clear: If I want to take the next big step, I have to present more for the general public. Personally, I’ve always been a big fan of old-school Japanese wrestlers who still had real guts and looked like you’d imagine a butcher.
“Emulating such idols worked for me, also because up to now I’ve been there for the… let’s call it: hardcore wrestling audience. In the WWE main roster, however, the conditions are different, you are on a global stage, in the mainstream. From my point of view, you have to present yourself differently. And I prepared well for that in the months leading up to my move to the USA.
“No one can tell me that anyone who happens to turn on the TV wouldn’t find me better and more believable the way I looked before than I do now.”
Translated from German.
Gunther, who had previously stated that he had no interest in moving to the US permanently, has also discussed his decision to finally move Stateside, once again stating that WWE didn’t push him to do anything.
The popular star last wrestled on WWE TV on the April 22 edition of SmackDown.
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2 years ago by Sanchez Taylor
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