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We had the opportunity to interview Gunther for SPORT1 in Germany. You can of course report the quotes if you backlink the original piece:
A choice of quotes:
His choice to backtrack from his original stance not to move to the US:
"The thought that I might have to take the step at some point was in the back of my mind. I really, really liked living in Germany, but then I thought it was time to make the leap. It is the prerequisite for being able to be at the top here. You have to be able to be on the road every weekend for WWE - and you can only do that if you're based here. So I was faced with the question: Do I want to stand still or stake everything on one card and take the risk? I have now done that."
The non-promotion of Fabian Aichner:
"Fabian Aichner isn't there for the time being and that's a pity, of course. Fabian has very good qualities as a wrestler, is a fantastic athlete. But things can always change and Marcel and I both strongly believe in it."
His new name, new theme, new look:
"The appearance is a bit different, has a bit more color, with the red instead of black coat. I can say for myself that I'm satisfied with my presentation and that it's not wrong that things are changed and that I have to leave my comfort zone a bit. Change is often seen negatively at first, but in the end it's simply part of life. There's this dictum: "Anyone who thinks they're already something won't become anything anymore." That's it. On the other hand, I still think that I didn't have to change in a way that doesn't suit me."
The viral video with the little boy doing the Imperium pose:
„You get everything that happens on the internet, you're tagged so you don't miss anything. I saw it - and of course that's great. I think in general: wrestling is the greatest thing for children, I always think back to what it was like when I came into contact with wrestling as a child. That's why I'm always particularly happy when I see that I can inspire the children of today with what I do.“
The story behind the name "Ludwig Kaiser":
"Marcel has Gustl Kaiser in mind, a legendary and very influential German promoter from the time when his father, Axel Dieter, was still a professional wrestler. Marcel was given a few names to choose from and he chose that one because it sounds good and it embodies history. That suits us."
Rumor killer that his 20/25 kilos weight loss has been ordered by Vince McMahon:
"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 a belly 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. […] Honestly, no one can tell me that anyone who happens to turn on the TV wouldn't think I was better and more believable the way I looked before than I do now."
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