Ludwig Kaiser has been absent from WWE television in recent months, having recently taken on the masked role of El Grande Americano as Chad Gable recovers from shoulder surgery. His WWE journey began over seven years ago, with his debut on NXT on August 8, 2018. Initially, he competed under his real name, Marcel Barthel, and was a key member of Imperium for several years.
Upon his promotion to WWE’s main roster, Marcel Barthel adopted the ring name Ludwig Kaiser, while his Imperium partner Walter was rebranded as Gunther. Imperium also included Fabian Aichner, who later became Giovanni Vinci before being removed from the faction by Kaiser.
Possible Reunion with Gunther After Injury Layoff
With Gunther recently losing the World Championship and possibly sidelined for months due to a nose injury, a reunion with Kaiser remains a plausible scenario once both are healthy. Gunther’s upcoming recovery period could overlap with Chad Gable’s rehabilitation, keeping the El Grande Americano persona on hold and opening the door for Kaiser to transition back into competition on either Raw or SmackDown under his established Ludwig Kaiser identity.
This timing might facilitate a reunion of the Ring General and Gunther, reviving their former partnership on WWE programming.
Opportunities for a New Beginning on SmackDown
Kaiser’s personal relationship with SmackDown Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, who appears regularly on the blue brand, could influence his decision to start fresh on SmackDown rather than remain on Raw. Following his recent loss of the title to CM Punk—who subsequently lost it to Seth Rollins through a Money in the Bank cash-in—Kaiser may seek a new direction in his WWE career.
Whether reuniting with Gunther or developing a solo run on SmackDown, any move could redefine Kaiser’s role in WWE’s evolving landscape.
