Ludwig Kaiser Reveals Real Reason Behind Split With WWE Partner

Ludwig Kaiser has revealed why he really split up with his WWE partner.

Ludwig Kaiser was known as Marcel Barthel when he joined WWE alongside Fabian Aichner and Walter. Together, the trio formed Imperium, a continuation of the Ringkampf faction that had taken European wrestling by storm.

When it came time to head to the WWE main roster, name changes were given with Barthel and Aichner becoming Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, with Walter famously now known as Gunther.

The group continued on WWE television together before Vinci was banished from the group for repeated in-ring failures. Gunther eventually told Kaiser it was time for him to make his own way in the company, and the pair split without a feud or any great fallout.

Ludwig Kaiser & Gunther Decided To Split Up

Speaking on the Kennt jeder podcast, Kaiser was asked about his split with Gunther and explained why it had to happen:

I think I have never said this in public, but it was Gunther’s and my idea.

You see, Imperium originated in wXw as Ringkampf, even though it was set up differently. We were all on the same level, but with different characters. Timothy Thatcher was the roughneck for the dirty work. I was the arrogant young boy. WALTER (Gunther) was the slaughterer to kill everyone. Imperium was a different dynamic. Gunther was the main guy and I was part of the tag team.

Gunther is insane, he unlocks something in people that only few can. You need to know your place. My job was to make his act better and not take anything away. But at some point you want more and you get to a point where you want more. But if you keep walking behind Gunther, I remain the tag team guy. We realized something needs to change, so we did.

Of course there is a risk. But in America you need to bank on yourself and on your skills. You need to have the balls to do that. You will get that chance, you need to use it. I would say for myself I did just that.

Ludwig Kaiser is currently splitting his time between WWE and AAA as he has taken on the unlikely role of El Grande Americano during Chad Gable’s absence due to injury.