We Finally Know Why Vince McMahon Changed Walter’s Name To Gunther

Whether a new WWE signing is subject to a name change often feels random. Some have it thrust upon them, while others, like AJ Styles, get to keep the name they used elsewhere. Sometimes new signings initially get to keep their names, then have to change them later. That’s what happened to Gunther.

Why WWE Changed Gunther’s Name

When Gunther first signed with WWE and during his time in NXT UK, he went by Walter, the ring name he used when wrestling on the independent circuit. Gunther was famous enough that letting him keep the name Walter made sense. It’s also why, when his name was eventually changed to Gunther out of the blue, there was a fair bit of backlash from the fans.

We’ve all become so accustomed to referring to him as Gunther now that it almost feels weird to think it wasn’t his name the entire time. WWE knows that, no matter how fierce the backlash might be, that will always be the case eventually. What was never explained is why WWE wanted to change Gunther’s name after he had been wrestling as Walter in the company for years, although now we may finally have an answer.

The Wrestling Observer has potentially shed some light on the once unpopular name change and, surprise surprise, if this latest reporting on the situation is correct, the move from Walter to Gunther was an edict handed down by Vince McMahon. As for why the former chairman didn’t like the name Walter, apparently he envisioned a future where fans might refer to Gunther as Wally.

Would Anyone Other Than Vince Assume People Might Call Him Wally?

Apparently, that really might have been all there was to it. Backstage one day, McMahon would have said something to the tune of, “What if someone calls him Wally?” and those around him not only wouldn’t have had a response, but they’d have known McMahon well enough that even if they did have a retort, it wouldn’t have made any difference. The thought had entered his head, and the name Walter was already as good as dead. He didn’t want his new “menacing heel” being called Wally.

The story reminds me of Seth Rollins revealing why McMahon banned his stomp. McMahon explained to Rollins that he didn’t want him using the move anymore because it was something he could easily imagine Shane doing to Stephanie and seriously hurting her when they were kids, and he didn’t want young fans imitating the move and potentially making his worrying vision come true.

While the logic is sound, the list of moves used every single week in WWE that young fans could easily imitate and potentially hurt each other with is a long one. Similar to the Walter/Wally situation, trying to sound out that logic after the thought was already in McMahon’s head would have been a fruitless endeavor.