On the February 24, edition of WWE Raw, Ludwig Kaiser handed Penta his first loss on the red brand by winning a triple-threat that included Pete Dunne. The finish of the match saw Kaiser push Penta out of the ring so that he could captalize and pin the Bruiserweight.
In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Cathy Kelley alluded to Kaiser ‘stealing’ the win from Penta, an accusation the German rejected.
“Penta has been stealing attention from Ludwig Kaiser since the day he walked into this company, isn’t that right? And you’re standing here talking to me like I was stealing anything, no. I wasn’t stealing anything.”
Not only did Kaiser reject the idea that he ‘stole the win,’ but he shared to Kelley what he actually has been doing throughout his singles run.
“What I’ve been doing is working hard, being humble, going out there, hitting every ball they’re throwing at me out the park, that’s what I’ve been doing, I have not been stealing anything.”
Amidst all he’s been doing, Kaiser “punished” Penta this week by taking what Ludwig believes Penta cares about most, the attention that has been on the masked star since his arrival. Kaiser concluded by vowing that 2025 will be his year and that Penta will soon be “no more.”
Ludwig Kaiser’s dramatic rise as a singles star has caught the attention of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker, the German Superstar has shared. On the Insight podcast, Kaiser recalled receiving high praise from the Phenom of WWE.
“Goosebumps, man. That’s crazy. The Undertaker tells you exactly what you need to hear. No sugarcoating.”
The WWE legend didn’t just offer compliments to Kaiser, who transitioned into a singles role in 2024. The Undertaker also gave Kaiser direct advice on how to elevate his game.
“He told me what I needed to do, and it was something I had already felt myself. He reassured me that I was on the right path.”
Though Kaiser stopped short of every detail of the meeting, he shared that the pair spoke for 20 minutes. Recognizing that the Undertaker didn’t have to speak to him, Kaiser called their talk a pivotal changing point in his career.
“He didn’t have to do that. He’s The Undertaker. But he cared. And that meant a lot to me… “If that meeting hadn’t happened, who knows? It was one of those moments in life where you go, ‘Man, this changes everything.’”
Ludwig Kaiser has spent most of his WWE career alongside Gunther—but could that ever change? In an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Kaiser spoke about his long-time partnership with the reigning World Heavyweight Champion.
“We go way back. People see us as a unit, but I had my fourth-ever match against him. We’ve battled across Europe before we ever teamed together in WWE.”
In 2024, Kaiser turned on Giovanni Vinci, another long-time ally, leaving fans to speculate that GUNTHER could be targeted by the German next. Despite GUNTHER holding Raw’s richest prize, Kaiser would be wary to get on the bad side of the ring general.
“It’s better to be on GUNTHER’s side than against him. Trust me on that.”
When pressed further on possibly turning on GUNTHER, Kaiser explained why he can’t see himself betraying his friend.
“I don’t think so. As a European, loyalty means a lot to me. And GUNTHER has helped me so much in my career.”
On the podcast, Van Vliet pointed out that WWE alliances rarely last forever, with even The New Day splitting last December after ten years of union. Kaiser joked that fans can “never say never” but for the time being “I stand by my words.”
With WrestleMania 41 approaching, GUNTHER’s focus is on Jey Uso and defending the World Heavyweight Championship against the popular star. With such a huge match on the horizon, GUNTHER won’t have to worry about being betrayed by Ludwig Kaiser, for now…
Ludwig Kaiser is ready to succeed as a singles competitor after spending years of his career as Imperium’s supporting cast. On the Insight podcast, Kaiser reflected on the past 12 months which have seen him focus on pursuing singles success.
“Everything I’ve accomplished, I had to work hard for. Nothing was given to me. I’ve been in the company for so long, but this past year, everything started clicking.”
The turning point came in early 2024 when an injury to Imperium partner Giovanni Vinci thrust Kaiser into the singles spotlight. A singles showdown with Kofi Kingston, who has seen success as part of a group and as a solo act, proved pivotal.
“I was told directly what they wanted to see from me that night. It was a test. And I showed them a side of me that had always been there but never had the chance to shine.”
Kaiser has since been able to battle top-tier talent, including Sheamus, Bron Breakker, and CM Punk at Madison Square Garden. Kaiser shared that ten years, he would’ve laughed if he was told he’d one day face CM Punk in MSG “but here we are.”
As for 2025, Kaiser is clear about his ambitions; he wants to do all he can over the year.
“My eyes are on the prize. I have everything it takes to be a major player. People forget—this singles run has really only been one year. Imagine what’s next.”
WWE has been growing its presence in Europe in recent years, with the continent set to play a huge role on the Road to WrestleMania 41. If Kaiser can keep injury free, 2025 could mark his ascension to the main event spotlight.
“I wouldn’t want to just to do that… But definitely when it comes to work I think we could do some great stuff. We could bring the Mixed Match Challenge back.”
Stratton and Kaiser met as part of WWE with their first official meeting being inside the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Though the pair couldn’t help but notice one another, it took time before they began conversing.
“We can be pretty stubborn I think. And I think nobody wanted to make the first step.”
It was sheer coincidence that the pair eventually took the brave step towards one another. Kaiser explained that he was out with some friends and spotted Stratton who was celebrating her birthday weekend with some pals. The pair eventually began talking and “I don’t know how it went, but somehow we got to that, hey, why don’t we go on a date?”
Though the pair are on different brands, Kaiser could not be happier to see Stratton thrive on WWE SmackDownas the reigning WWE Women’s Champion. Reflecting on Tiffy Time coming during the first SmackDown of 2025, Kaiser was glad he could be with Stratton every step of the way.
“I’ve been there for the lows, I’ve been there for the highs. I’ve seen it all very up close, and she created something there. She’s doing amazing.”
Kaiser has seen his own star grow on Monday Night Raw, where he has been in pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship and has been feuding with Penta. Whether it remains to be seen if Stratton wins gold of his own, the German is pleased that his WWE career is happening during ‘Tiffy Time.’
Bron Breakker is all types of “Steinerized” for his upcoming triple threat match tonight at WWE Survivor Series. Donning a WCW shirt of his dear Uncle Scott, the Intercontinental Champion cut a pre-match promo as he was asked by Jackie Redmod what his mindset was going up against both Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser. Breakker took a moment to note the respect he has for both competitors in the bout. Bron made clear he knew the score of Kaiser and how he’ll aim to win the match.
“[Kaiser is] gonna try to sewer rat around and steal the championship from me.”
When it comes to Sheamus, Breakker said just cause ‘The Celtic Warrior’ is searching to secure that Intercontinental gold, the only title he’s never held in WWE, doesn’t mean he’ll get it.
“I played for the Ravens and never won a Super Bowl but should they give me a Super Bowl ring cause I was there for participation? No! Take it back to the retirement home old man, this ain’t Saturday night bingo!”
Both Kaiser and Sheamus had challenged Breakker for the Title the past two weeks on WWE RAW. Due to interference by both men in their respective bouts, the matches led to disqualification finishes, building to the battle that’s taking place at Survivor Series.
Kaiser could be a wild card in this match as he’s finding himself a little at odds with his Imperium pal, GUNTHER, who is defending his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest.
WWE Superstar Ludwig Kaiser shocked fans with his unannounced return to wXw, and teased something with one of the promotion’s top stars. Kaiser appeared at wXw Broken Rules on November 23, in his first appearance for the legendary German wrestling promotion since 2019.
Kaiser wrestled as Axel Deiter Jr. during his wXw, and the fans in attendance gave the Imperium member a hero’s welcome. During his return, Kaiser confronted wXw Unified World Wrestling Champion Peter Tihanyi, exciting fans at the prospect of a match with the champion and more involvement with wXw.
Here is the clip of Ludwig Kaiser's return to wXw in his hometown
Kaiser’s surprise appearance at wXw Broken Rules highlights WWE’s newfound willingness to work with other promotions in 2024. WWE has forged partnerships with Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Marigold, and TNA Wrestling, which was once WWE’s most direct competition in the United States.
Back in WWE, Kaiser has been showing new-found aggression on TV, interestingly at a time when GUNTHER has shown some doubts ever since his loss at WWE Crown Jewel. On the latest episode of WWE Raw, Kaiser interfered in the Intercontinental title match, keeping Sheamus from winning the one title he’s yet to hold in WWE. The attack could see Kaiser put into the IC title picture which is being dominated by Champion Bron Breakker.
Whether fans see more from Kaiser in wXw, or if this was just a one-off, the German Superstar delighted the fans with his appearance and confrontation with Tihanyi. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Ludwig Kaiser and his work in WWE, as well as any future appearances outside the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
Tiffany Stratton has certainly earned her place on WWE TV since her main roster call-up, but don’t expect to see her alongside real-life partner Ludwig Kaiser. While several real-life romances have played out on WWE screens, that hasn’t been the case for these two Superstars. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Stratton was asked for her opinion on possibly being aligned on TV with her German boyfriend.
“I don’t know, if it happens, sure, if the timing and storyline is right then yeah, why not? We are not in a rush to be together on screen, we are on separate brands but, if the time comes, I am down, we don’t see each other too often. We have like two days together, but we make those days count.”
Though not on WWE TV, the pair can be regularly spotted together on Tiffany Stratton’s TikTok which highlights the pair’s respective lives as Superstars and workout routines. Like Miss. Money in the Bank herself, the channel has proven exceptionally popular and is closing in on half a million followers.
As for TV, Stratton appears poised for a breakout moment soon enough, with the ‘Buff Barbie’ still in possession of the Women’s Money in the Bank contract. Recently, Stratton teased cashing in on her ‘friend’ Nia Jax at Crown Jewel, but Stratton didn’t leave Riyadh with the WWE Women’s Championship.
As for Kaiser, he remains the loyal ally of GUNTHER though has fallen short of his efforts to eliminate Sheamus, much to the chagrin of the World Heavyweight Champion. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Kaiser and Stratton and their roles both on and off TV.
Fans should gear up for the highly anticipated return of Giovanni Vinci next week. After weeks of teasing through various vignettes, the former Imperium member is set to make his comeback.
During Friday’s WWE SmackDown tapings in Berlin, a video aired announcing Vinci’s return on the September 6 episode of the show.
The vignettes have depicted Vinci in a manner reminiscent of his early NXT persona—enjoying lavish settings, sipping top-shelf drinks, and cruising in luxury cars.
Vinci has been absent from WWE programming since an April episode of WWE RAW, following a loss to New Day that led to a brutal attack by his former ally, Ludwig Kaiser. Kaiser’s assault with steel steps sidelined Vinci for several months. Shortly after, during the WWE Draft, Vinci was quietly moved to SmackDown.
The recent teases suggest Vinci will maintain his heel persona, but character shifts in WWE are always possible. Separating him from his former Imperium comrades might breathe new life into his character, who often played a supporting role within the faction.
While Kaiser and GUNTHER remain aligned, Imperium is no longer emphasized as a faction. With GUNTHER’s World Heavyweight Title victory, all three members are now receiving a greater focus on their individual careers.
WWE is officially on the road to their next premium live event, Bash In Berlin, which will take place on August 31 in Berlin, Germany. Ahead of the PLE, the company stopped for a live house show at the Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, on August 27.
The card featured several matchups from the Friday Night Smackdown roster as WWE prepares for a live episode on August 30 at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany. The house show also had WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, Ilja Dragunov, and Sheamus competing to represent the Monday Night RAW brand. In the main event, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes put his title on the line against AJ Styles.
WWE Results (8/27)
Here are the results(Provided by Cagematch) for the latest WWE house show:
WWE United States Championship Fatal Four Way Match: (C) LA Knight b. Ludwig Kaiser, Sheamus, and Shinsuke Nakamura
DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) b. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson)
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Bayley b. (C) Nia Jax via DQ
Bayley & Naomi b. Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: (C) Gunther b. Ilja Dragunov
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill b. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: (C) The Bloodline (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) with Jacob Fatu b. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: (C) Cody Rhodes b. AJ Styles
Reactions From WWE Road To Bash In Berlin Event
WWE fans who attended the show have expressed their enjoyment on social media by sharing photos and videos from the event. The company has also shared a post on X of Kaiser making his entrance in his home country, which received a huge reaction from the crowd.
WWE Continues To Build Momentum Ahead Of Bash In Berlin
The company will continue its road to Bash In Berlin with two more house shows before Smackdown. WWE will hold events at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, on August 28 and at the Festhalle Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany, on August 29. Tickets for both shows are still on sale on Ticketmaster.
The tour through Germany has given fans a taste of what to expect at the PLE this Saturday. Based on the reactions from those attending the house shows this week, Bash In Berlin should have a great crowd to witness some of WWE’s best superstars compete live.
Imperium member Ludwig Kaiser is optimistic that he could be a part of WWE Bash In Berlin despite recuperating from an injury. Kaiser has been sidelined with a broken rib injury which he sustained in a match against Bron Breakker. He recently revealed that he struggled to breathe following the match and he has been kept off the SummerSlam card.
Ludwig Kaiser told SPOX that he is on the right track for his return. He believes that his appearance at the upcoming WWE Bash In Berlin PLE in Germany is ‘not in danger’ and reassured all the German fans about it. Kaiser also reflected on WWE’s recent tour and showed excitement for the upcoming events in Europe. He said:
“I’m on the right track. Bash in Berlin is not in danger, I can reassure all German fans on that. You have to watch SummerSlam – there’s too much going on at the moment. There’s something new every week. The WWE is boiling and booming. Most recently we were in Japan, Mexico, for TV in America and then we’re going back to Europe soon. If I stub and sprain my toe, I’ll miss something next week too.”
During the interview, Ludwig Kaiser was asked about a hypothetical scenario in which he would only get to serve as a manager of Gunther at Bash In Berlin instead of competing in the ring. The German wrestler said that it would be difficult for him to deal with it as he believes he could thrive inside the squared circle in front of the native crowd. He said:
“I would find it hard to cope with that. I have earned the status that I can tear the place down on my own. As the only German, I want to show myself to my family and friends, who saw me fight in front of 35 people ten years ago. That is important to me.”
It was recently reported that Kaiser will team up with Gunther against Ilja Dragunov and Sami Zayn in a dark match at the SmackDown before Bash In Berlin. However, it is to be noted that the card is subject to change. WWE Bash In Berlin is set to take place on August 31 at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Facing Bron Breakker left Ludwig Kaiser struggling to breathe in a testament to the raw power of the former NXT Champion. In an interview with Metro, Kaiser revealed that he was already dealing with rib issues before facing Kaiser on the June 24, 2024, edition of RAW. Kaiser “couldn’t breathe” after mere minutes in the ring with Breakker and the German has been out of action ever since.
“With everything in life, if you’ve been put in a bad situation, you make the best out of it. And that’s what we did. We managed it all well, it was all fine, but obviously I wanna be there, I want to wrestle and perform.”
Despite this injury, Kaiser remains optimistic that he will be back in time for Bash in Berlin on August 31. The Imperium member said that the injury has been “annoying” but that he’s “recovering great” thanks to his impressive genetics. German news source BILD has reported that Kaiser will be in a dark match at the SmackDown before Bash in Berlin. Kaiser will team with GUNTHER on the night against Ilja Dragunov and Sami Zayn though as always, the card is subject to change.
This injury has been an unfortunate setback for Kaiser, who had been in the midst of a singles push before stepping in the ring with Bron Breakker. It just goes to show that wrestling is a high-risk career and that injuries can happen anytime a Superstar steps in the ring.
The road to WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland will continue forward with the June 3, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw.
WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Scotland will take place on June 15, from the OVO Hydro venue in Glasgow. With less than two weeks to go until the historic event, the Superstars of Monday Night Raw have plenty to do ahead of the event.
Liv Morgan To Appear
Merely seven days after her win over Becky Lynch as well as THAT kiss with Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan will be appearing on Monday Night Raw. What will the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion have to say now that Lynch is gone and after locking lips with ‘Dirty’ Dom?
Karrion Kross has set his sights on Xavier Woods in recent weeks and has even offered Woods a role with the Final Testament. Instead of accepting, Woods and Kofi Kingston will take on AOP (Akam and Rezar) in a tag-team match on the upcoming show.
The feud between these two European Superstars has already gotten very physical and fans can expect much more of that on tonight’s Raw. The four-time WWE World Champion will meet the right-hand man of Imperium in a match we imagine King of the Ring GUNTHER will be watching very closely.
Damian Priest Vs. Rey Mysterio
It was last week that Damian Priest attacked Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee after Rey’s match with Carlito. Now, the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Hall of Famer will do battle. With a title match with Drew McIntyre looming and the internal issues in the Judgment Day, will Priest be able to keep his mind on the task when he faces WWE’s Ultimate Underdog?
Giovanni Vinci has seemingly been kicked out of the Imperium after tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw from Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
This week’s episode of the red-branded show saw the first appearance of Gunther after he lost his Intercontinental Championship to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40.
The Ring General said that people expected him to talk about his loss but he had something else in mind. The former champion then officially declared himself as the first entrance for the upcoming King of The Ring tournament.
The New Day then made their way to the ring and Xavier Woods talked about being the last King of The Ring winner. The back and forth between the two groups lead to a tag team match featuring Ludwig Kaiser and Vinci taking on Woods and Kofi Kingston.
By The Orders of The Ring General?
The ending of this bout saw Wood delivering a double stomp on Vinci and pinning the Raw star for the victory. Gunther who was at the ringside was seemingly disappointed with this result and he stormed to the back after throwing his chair.
Kaiser helped Vinci get back up at the ringside and hugged him. He followed this up, however, by attacking his tag team partner. Kaiser continued the assault for a while and sent his partner crashing through the ring post and the announce desk before the officials sent him back.
Until this point, it appeared that Kaiser had snapped but as the German star returned to the Gorilla position, he ran into Gunther once again. Both the men smiled upon seeing each other suggesting that it was a pre-planned attack.
Elsewhere in the show, we saw the crowning of the new women’s world champion after Rhea Ripley relinquished her title due to an injury last week. You can click here to know who became the new champion.
WWE has a lot of couples on their roster, and they have historically done whatever they could to keep people on the same brand. In recent memory, WWE has made two big exceptions to this rule of thumb, and Tiffany Stratton isn’t loving the arrangement.
Tiffany Stratton Speaks on boyfriend Ludwig Kaiser
Tiffany Stratton was called up to the WWE main roster when she appeared in the #29 spot in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Now, she is on SmackDown, but there is an issue since her boyfriend is on RAW.
Stratton is dating Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser, and the two have been together for a while. They share an apartment together, but the couple only sees each other for a couple of days a week with this new arrangement.
The former NXT Women’s Champion dropped a video on TikTok as she got ready for SmackDown. She was in her hotel room before the show, and opened up about her current situation with Kaiser.
“As many of you know, my boyfriend is on RAW, and I’m on SmackDown, which means we have opposite schedules, which freaking sucks. Which means he has the complete opposite schedule, which means he comes in Tuesday morning, and I leave Thursday afternoon, so we only have like two days together, because he’s on the live shows like every single weekend.”
WWE Split Up Another Couple
Charlotte Flair is on SmackDown, but she went down with a knee injury. As soon as she was out, her husband Andrade returned to WWE. The company placed Andrade on RAW, and his wife is on the blue brand.
The general thinking is that this split won’t affect them much, since Flair is not traveling on the road. Only time will tell if WWE places them back on the same brand once The Queen returns.
What’s Next
Tiffany Stratton mentioned that she and her boyfriend were planning to move apartments soon and were looking forward to renting their dream apartment. She expressed excitement about the prospect of having more space, especially since they currently live in a cramped one-bedroom apartment and have accumulated a lot of belongings.
Tiffany emphasized the need for additional storage space for their clothes and other items, indicating a desire for a larger closet and an extra room. She may need more room soon enough, and those main roster checks will help them pay for it.
Tiffany Stratton recently outlined the struggles of being on separate brands to her boyfriend and fellow WWE Superstar Ludwig Kaiser.
The two superstars have been in a relationship for quite some time and they made it public in 2022. Stratton had a remarkable run in NXT and was called up to the main roster after her impactful performance in the Royal Rumble. She signed with SmackDown and has been performing on the blue brand ever since. Meanwhile, Kaiser made it to the main roster as part of Imperium led by Gunther and they are active on Monday Night Raw.
It is no secret that WWE superstars have a hectic schedule with weekly TV shows and live events on the weekends. Sometimes it can make an impact on their personal lives. Well, it seems that Tiffany Stratton is facing challenges to spend time with her boyfriend and Imperium member, Ludwig Kaiser. However, they are overcoming the odds and Stratton revealed that they are moving to their ‘dream apartment.’
Tiffany Stratton and Ludwig Kaiser will have a new home
While speaking on TikTok, Tiffany Stratton talked about reaching a huge milestone in their relationship and they will soon move from a one-bedroom apartment to their dream apartment.
“Actually, me and my boyfriend are going to be moving apartments soon and we’re gonna be buying, like, our dream apartment. Not buying, just renting, but you get it. But I’m so excited because we live in a freakin’ one-bedroom apartment and we just have so much stuff.”
“All these suitcases – we practically live out of suitcases, so we just need more room to store everything. I have so much freakin’ clothes, and, so does he, so we need a bigger closet, we need an extra room, we need it all, so I’m so excited.”
‘The Buff Barbie’ also revealed that they are facing challenges as they are on separate brands and the former NXT Women’s Champion noted the little they get to spend with each other. She said:
“As some of you may know, my boyfriend is on Monday Night RAW and I’m on SmackDown, which means we have opposite schedules, which freakin’ sucks. We have the complete opposite of schedules. Like, he comes in Tuesday morning, I leave Thursday afternoon. We only have like two days together really because he’s on the live shows every single weekend. But, it’s okay.”
On last week’s SmackDown Tiffany Stratton defeated Michin. On the other hand, Ludwig Kaiser teamed with Gunther and Giovanni Vinci to take on Jey Uso and New Day in a losing effort on last night’s Raw.
The January 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw gave fans an update on Kofi Kingston’s status. On the January 8 episode of the show, Kingston was attacked by Ludwig Kaiser, resulting in him being injured. WWE Commentator Michael Cole revealed on this past WWE Monday Night Raw that the former WWE Champion is expected to be out for a few weeks.
Cole shared that Kingston’s injury was a “Cervical neck sprain and an AC sprain.” It’s unclear if these injuries are legitimate or a part of a storyline. Both injuries would seemingly rule out Kingston’s involvement in the WWE Royal Rumble on January 27.
That said, his partner Xavier Woods made his return and wants to get revenge for Kingston. Woods faced Kaiser on the January 15 episode and lost by disqualification after The New Day member hit him with a chair. They continued to brawl after the match, with Woods getting the better of the exchange.
In a backstage interview with Byron Sexton, the former King Of The Ring Winner tried to explain his actions but was attacked from behind by Kaiser. Before the Imperium member could continue, Jey Uso appeared to stop the assault.
For two weeks, Uso helped Kingston in his feud against the Imperium (Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci). Since Vinci and Kingston are out with an injury, this could lead to Uso and WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther being more involved in the storyline.
What Could Be Next In The Storyline?
Although Woods is looking to get revenge on Kaiser for Kingston, Uso could soon set his sights on Gunther’s championship. “The Ring General” has looked unbeatable since winning the title on the June 10, 2022, episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. He has successfully defended the title 19 times and would be looking for new challengers.
Uso’s involvement in the storyline with Kingston and Woods may provide WWE a way to transition to him challenging the WWE Intercontinental Champion. Since moving to WWE Monday Night Raw, Uso has been showing that he can stand on his own without his family, and it would solidify his decision by potentially winning the title.
For Woods, his ongoing feud with Kaiser may lead to the return of both Kingston and Vinci in a few weeks. The company could decide to have a featured tag team match between The New Day(Kingston & Woods) and Imperium (Kaiser & Vinci) within the next few months.
While the storyline seems to point in this direction, WWE has plenty of options. Regardless, it doesn’t seem the company has a plan for everyone involved, which may lead to big matches heading into the “Road To WrestleMania.”
Injuries are a sad part of pro wrestling, and they can occur when you least expect them. Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser lost this week on RAW, but it was due to referee stoppage after Vinci went down.
Possible Injury During WWE RAW
Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso faced Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser in a match that was progressing smoothly during the RAW 1 episode of WWE RAW. Suddenly, the match came to an unexpected halt.
Giovanni Vinci went down on the apron, prompting an abrupt stoppage of the match. Ringside doctors attended to Vinci, leading the referee to make the decision to end the match.
In an unexpected turn, Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso were declared the winners via referee stoppage.
Michael Cole kept saying on commentary that they take their talent’s safety very seriously. At this time, we are uncertain what happened with Giovanni Vinci, but it was enough to call off the match.
Following the match, Giovanni Vinci was observed walking out on his own. The sudden conclusion of the match added an element of surprise to its outcome.
Giovanni Vinci caught a Kofi Kingston dropkick off a second rope jump.
The ref halted the action, the doctor jumped in the ring, and called off the match. Great work from the referee Shawn Bennett protecting Vinci
Giovanni Vinci later updated his X with a message. When translated to English, he let fans know that he’s doing fine. He also thanked them for their support and concern.
WWE consistently strives to make every event memorable, be it on television or at live shows. In a recent WWE live event in Boston, MA, DJ Steve Aoki made a special appearance at the TD Garden, and he brought cake.
Steve Aoki Throws Cake At WWE Event
During the Holiday Tour live event, fans saw numerous memorable moments, but one went viral as an unexpected celebrity showed up. Steve Aoki joined Kofi Kingston for a unique segment, and they brought cake.
Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser was caked in a big way. In case you didn’t know, Steve Aoki is known for throwing cakes during his performances, and he brought that to the WWE live event.
WWE’s put the clip on social media, along with a caption that asked, “What is Steve Aoki doing with that cake?!” That was a very good question, but it was also one that was answered with the video clip they included in the post.
The WWE Holiday Tour continues with more upcoming dates, because the company isn’t done with 2023 yet. We will keep our eyes peeled for more notable highlights as WWE closes out the year in their own trademark way.
Steve Aoki is an American DJ, record producer, and music executive. He is a famous face in the electronic dance music scene. Known for his performances, he incorporates crowd-surfing and cake-throwing into his shows.
Aoki is also the founder of the record label Dim Mak Records, promoting emerging artists in electronic music. He has collaborated with musicians across genres and released albums and singles throughout his career. Obviously, he can bring a wild time whenever he shows up, and Steve Aoki proved that at the Boston WWE live event.
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has spoken about the perception from some fans that his character and the Imperium stable are rooted in Naziism.
When WWE changed WALTER’s name to GUNTHER, the original change was meant to be ‘Gunther Stark,’ also the name of a Nazi U-Boat commander in World War 2.
Last week, GUNTHER received a rating of 88 in WWE 2K23, which raised eyebrows from fans, given that the number is used as code by modern-day Nazis.
In a simple letter-number code, 88 is HH, which Nazis and white supremacists uses as a dog whistle for “Heil Hitler.”
Living With It
As an Austrian (the same nation as Hitler) who spent much of his career competing in Germany, GUNTHER is well aware of the significance of the two nations in WW2.
Speaking on The Ringer’s Cheap Heat podcast, the reigning Intercontinental Champion was asked about the negative stigma as an Austrian who was based out of Germany competing in the U.S.
“That’s the history of the two countries,” GUNTHER replied “That’s something we can never change. We have to live with it. But obviously, that’s something that got thrown at us before and still gets thrown at us. We don’t really acknowledge it because it’s so far away from what the truth is.”
GUNTHER.
GUNTHER added that often, anyone who considers himself to be in any association with fascism cannot acknowledge the differences Austria and Germany have made since 1945.
“Austria and Germany have made huge efforts to be hard on themselves when it comes to their history and keep themselves in check.”
GUTNHER.
The Austrian went on to say that he and Ludwig Kaiser (who is German) have prided themselves on how their nations treat the seriousness of their past atrocities.
Taking Things Seriously
Imperium’s appeal to WWE fans has come with how serious the characters of GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci are portrayed on TV and at live events.
On the podcast, GUNTHER explained that taking wrestling as seriously as they do is not just part of the act fans see each week.
“We mean it! We build our livelihood around it. Why should we not take it seriously? There’s no playing a character or anything like that. That’s just what we are.”
GUNTHER.
GUNTHER will defend his Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 39 against an opponent yet to be decided.
Braun Strowman and Ricochet were opponents on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX, but proved to be formidable allies after the show.
During the show, Ricochet got a huge win over Strowman to advance to the finals of the SmackDown World Cup Tournament.
Ricochet, representing the United States, will face Santos Escobar (Mexico) in the finals on next week’s show, with the winner earning a title match against Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.
After SmackDown
Ricochet’s win over Strowman was far from clean, as GUNTHER and Imperium were at ringside and ensured that Braun did not win the match.
After the match, Imperium attacked Strowman, and while at first conflicted, Ricochet made the save on the man he had previously beaten.
Once SmackDown went off the air, Braun and Ricochet teamed up to face Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.
Despite their differences on TV, Strowman and Ricochet got the win to send the crowd home happy.
Strowman’s loss came as a shock to some fans, but it may have been more than just WWE’s creative plans that caused this booking decision.
After losing to Ricochet, his first loss since returning to WWE in early September, fans online speculated that this was a punishment for the former Universal Champion.
Strowman earned considerable heat with fans and wrestlers after his ‘flippy floppy’ comments on Twitter, in which he mocked indie wrestling and wrestlers.
It has been reported that while Strowman has been nothing but good at WWE events ‘Social Media Braun’ has proven to be a problem for WWE’s higher-ups.
Imperium and the Brawling Brutes will look to settle the score next Saturday when the two factions meet in a Good Old Fashion Donnybrook match at WWE Extreme Rules 2022.
The no-disqualification match was confirmed on WWE.com and on social media, after weeks of the two sides feuding.
Imperium Vs. The Brawling Brutes
The two teams have been at odds for some time, with Imperium reuniting at Clash at the Castle 2022.
At the Cardiff, Wales event, GUNTHER retained the Intercontinental Championship against Sheamus in a critically-acclaimed match.
Imperium once again stood tall over the Brawling Brutes in a Six-Man Tag Team Match on the September 9, edition of SmackDown.
After Butch and Ridge Holland defeated three-other teams (including Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) to earn a shot at The Usos, Imperium attacked them, costing them the Undisputed WWE Tag Team title match.
On the SmackDown before WWE Extreme Rules, Sheamus will once again challenge GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship.
Extreme Rules
The Donnybrook match is just the latest addition to a stacked WWE Extreme Rules 2022 card, which will see several stipulations.
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will defend her title against Bayley in a ladder match, the first singles ladder match in WWE Women’s history.
Drew McIntyre will take on Karrion Kross in a strap match, while Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins will square off inside the Fight Pit.
The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor will take on former leader Edge in an I-Quit match.
WWE referee Charles Robinson is a legend in the wrestling business and can handle a kick to the face from time to time.
He has spent over twenty years with WWE, and worked in WCW for four years (1997-2001). In 1999, Charles aligned himself with Ric Flair and the Four Horseman. He was given the nickname “Lil Niatch” due to his alliance with Ric Flair in WCW. Charles had a WrestleMania moment of his own at WrestleMania 24.
During the World Heavyweight Championship match between The Undertaker and Edge, the Dead Man hit the Tombstone piledriver but the referee was down. Charles Robinson took the opportunity to sprint down the entrance ramp in a moment that will stand the test of time.
Charles Robinson Gets Accidentally Kicked In The Face At WWE Live Event
WWE held a live event last night in Bakersfield, California. Drew McIntyre teamed up with The New Day to face Imperium (Intercontinental Champion Gunther, Giovanni Vinci, and Ludwig Kaiser in a 6-man tag team match.
During the match, Drew McIntyre lifted Ludwig Kaister up onto his shoulders. Drew spun around and Ludwig accidentally booted Charles Robinson directly in the face. McIntyre dropped Ludwig to the mat and checked on Robinson as he exited the ring after the move.
The SmackDown official took to Twitter to post a video of the incident. The 58-year-old called Drew McIntyre a beast before informing Ludwig that his foot hurt his face.
A wrestling fan told Lil Naitch to “buck up” and claimed that he was tougher than that. Charles responded and joked that he kicked all their butts after the accident.
Who says I’m not tough? I got up and I kicked all their butts.
WWE has decided against a slight name change that had been put in place for a SmackDown superstar.
In late May, WWE made a minor change to Ludwig Kaiser, the manager for Gunther. The small change had to do with the spelling of Kaiser’s first name.
It was changed from “Ludwig” to “Ludvig.”
Ludvig … We Hardly Knew Ya
(via WWE)
Well, as it turns out “Ludvig” was short-lived.
WWE has already reverted to using “Ludwig” for Kaiser’s first name again.
Kaiser and Gunther were introduced to the main roster back in April. Gunther, formerly known as WALTER (his real name), has already started a feud with WWE Intercontinental Champion Ricochet.
On the May 27 episode of SmackDown, Gunther and Kaiser defeated Ricochet and Drew Gulak in a tag team match after Kaiser pinned Gulak.
WWE has made a small alteration to the name of a SmackDown talent.
The company introduced Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser to the main roster back in April. Kaiser has served as Gunther’s manager.
WWE has already made a change to Kaiser’s first name but it’s quite minor.
Instead of “Ludwig,” he’ll now be referred to as Ludvig Kaiser. The switch has been spotted on the WWE.com roster page.
This is perhaps the least egregious WWE name change we’ve seen in some time. The company has been known to make drastic changes to how characters are named when called up from the NXT brand.
Gunther is actually a prime example. He had gone by his real name, Walter, on the indies and on NXT before being called up to the SmackDown roster.
The good news for fans of Gunther is that his character and in-ring presence have remained the same.
It seems WWE is gearing up for a program with Gunther and WWE Intercontinental Champion Ricochet.
