Ludwig Kaiser Sheds Light on What Led to His Separation with Gunther in Late 2024

After an incredible partnerhip with Gunther as part of Imperium, Ludwig Kaiser reveals the story of why he separated with the Austrian on-screen.

Ludwig Kaiser Sheds Light on What Led to His Separation with Gunther in Late 2024

Ludwig Kaiser, Gunther and Imperium (via WWE)

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Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser have built one of the most enduring partnerships in modern WWE. Their alliance first took shape in NXT UK as part of Imperium, where the then-Walter reigned as the brand’s dominant champion with Kaiser loyally at his side. Their success only grew on the main roster, with Gunther etching his name into history as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion at 666 days. 

Moreover, he even established himself in the main event scene before going on to capture the World Heavyweight Championship twice. But their story runs even deeper than WWE. Between 2016 and 2019, Gunther and Kaiser were key members of Ringkampf alongside Timothy Thatcher. 

This was a hard-hitting faction that tore through promotions such as wXw and PROGRESS Wrestling. The trio made their mark in Germany’s Westside Xtreme Wrestling, showcasing the same ruthless, disciplined style that would later define Imperium. When Kaiser and Gunther transitioned to WWE, Giovanni Vinci was added to their ranks, cementing them as a formidable unit with Gunther as its leader. 

In late 2024, Gunther and Kaiser’s partnership came to an unexpected and quiet end. There was no dramatic betrayal or on-screen feud, just a sudden halt to their appearances together, leaving fans to wonder whose decision it had been to end one of WWE’s most reliable alliances.

Recently, Kaiser appeared on the Kennt Jeder podcast on YouTube, where he finally revealed whose idea it was to separate.

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

Ludwig Kaiser via Kennt Jeder podcast (translated by Daniel Schachtmeier)

He went on to explain the history of Ringkampf and his role in Imperium, highlighting how different his responsibilities were compared to Gunther’s, despite both being part of both groups.

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.

Ludwig Kaiser via Kennt Jeder podcast (translated by Daniel Schachtmeier)

Kaiser explained that he wanted the opportunity to have a solo run in WWE, praising Gunther as a formidable performer. Meanwhile, the former heavyweight title holder is currently on hiatus for a nose surgery after losing the World title at SummerSlam, but is expected to be back soon. 

Ludwig Kaiser weighs in on his 2025 Royal Rumble elimination and overall booking

Currently, Kaiser has been seen teaming with Dominik Mysterio, portraying a masked character on WWE TV known as El Grande Americano. This role was previously played by Chad Gable before he suffered an injury. However, Kaiser’s storylines weren’t really working before he took on the role of the masked luchador. 

Ludwig Kaiser at the 2025 Royal Rumble
Ludwig Kaiser at the 2025 Royal Rumble (via WWE)

Moreover, the start of 2025 was far from ideal for the European star as he was eliminated from the Royal Rumble match in just six seconds. For the unversed, he entered at #13 and was eliminated by Penta just moments later. In the same interview, Kaiser weighed in on his elimination and also the larger philosophy of being booked in the professional wrestling business. 

You need to know your spot. Whether you are happy about it or not, you need to do it as well as possible. It was a setup for the storyline with Penta. Personally, I wanted to be there, win it, and beat Cena at Mania. But not professionally. You can not do that. I took it as a compliment.

Ludwig Kaiser via Kennt Jeder podcast (translated by Daniel Schachtmeier)

Kaiser explained that being eliminated early could feel like a personal attack, but it can also be seen differently: the company chose him to absorb the crowd’s heat because they knew he was capable of it. He even noted that there are many heels, some who get booed, some who get cheered, and he is among those who get booed, alongside Logan Paul and Dominik Mysterio.

Do not waste your time on what you want so much. Focus on the task at hand. Remember that you are there for a reason, trust in it. Give them what they want and more.

Ludwig Kaiser via Kennt Jeder podcast (translated by Daniel Schachtmeier)

The former NXT Tag Team Champion has built a reputation for delivering hard-hitting matches against stars like Sheamus and Bron Breakker. In 2024, he took a darker turn, sidelining Kofi Kingston and targeting other WWE Superstars, while earning several Intercontinental Championship opportunities, though never capturing the title. 

He also had a notable rivalry with Penta, culminating in a No Holds Barred match in March. Since then, Kaiser has been rarely seen on WWE TV. Meanwhile, El Grande Americano has quickly made an impact since his debut, gaining worldwide fan attention. The European slugger recently teamed with Mysterio to help him win the AAA Mega Championship at Worlds Collide.

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