Why giving Walt a famous Nazi name highlights a major WWE problem
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WWE is again at the center of controversy, but this time it appears to be due to Nazi commanders. Now, WWE rebranding is nothing new. Unfortunately, the company has a nasty little habit of making horrible name changes, although from a business perspective it’s understandable that WWE would want to copyright and utilize performers’ stage names and likenesses. There’s nothing wrong with WALTER, the company’s decision to change its name nearly four years after its NXT UK debut is silly. However, this article isn’t about the name change, and there’s nothing particularly wrong with the company launching the gimmick. This is the meaning behind the name and what it really means. January 13, public WWE files for trademark For Gunther Stark. Until WALTER himself announced his name as Gunther after his NXT win over Roderick Strong, it was unclear who was named after. A quick Google search revealed that the name was based on a Nazi commander, resulting in an immediate backlash. Company to drop name on Jan. 19, while the former NXT UK champion is simply known as Gunther. The thing is, I can only speculate on the initial mindset of the company as I have no evidence that they knew or even understood the meaning of the name. However, this is a public company and it would be foolish for WWE not to even try to research the name first. Also, WWE is very strict when it comes to talent sharing names. NXT already has a woman named Zooey Stark, a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion.
On the surface, it appears that WWE is trying to create a new foreign faction with close German/Nazi ties. Again, this is all my guess and I’m not accusing WWE of being racist or anything of that nature. However, I do believe that Vince McMahon and his company have an old-school and disruptive view of the way they present foreign heels. Wrestling companies are notorious for using extremely outdated foreign heel gimmicks, which usually means the person hates America. Even AEW tried to pull off the stunt at will in their rivalry with Anthony Ogogo/Cody Rhodes last year. Clearly, the purpose of foreign heels is to destroy any American and express love for their respective countries. It’s an old-school gimmick for easy heel heat. There are several notable problems with this gimmick. First, it’s not the 40’s anymore. The audience understands that not every foreigner hates America. However, WWE, the largest wrestling company in the world, is the biggest culprit behind this stereotype. It’s not just one or two pairs of high heels that play foreign heel gimmicks. Not everyone is from America. Granted, the company isn’t as bad as previous generations when it comes to this gimmick, but it’s an old tactic that needs to be thrown away now. There are no nuances or layers to play with foreign heels. Also, when you think about it, the logic disappears. If a foreigner hates America so much, why should they continue to live in a country they absolutely hate?
However, the problem is not just gimmicks. This is the obvious xenophobic mentality that all foreigners hate America. I’m not calling Vince McMahon and company racists, in fact, I don’t think they are. I do feel they have a very narrow and short-sighted view of the world of other cultures. Are they really going to strap on a Nazi gimmick for some cheap heat? There’s nothing wrong with a movie, TV, or video game exploring these characters because we know it’s not realistic, but there’s usually some kind of depth or nuance after “I Hate America.” Also, the media has an increasing influence on foreign citizens, not just religious fanatics. Of course, other media have their own problems with the portrayal of most foreign characters, but let’s stick with WWE here. The company’s problem isn’t just foreigners. Tony D’Angelo plays a typical Italian gangster, where women are either caring, backstabbing sluts, and blacks are mostly thugs or thieves. I would applaud the company for mostly transcending most of these stereotypes, but they do pop up from time to time. It’s time to do away with foreign heel gimmicks for good. It’s a negative stereotype that simply won’t work in 2022. There are different types of people in terms of personality and traits. I know these boys and girls are just playing a role, but it’s an outdated trope that desperately needs to go. It unnecessarily spreads xenophobia to impressionable young people who don’t know that wrestling is scripted and hates a culture based on some kind of gimmick for cheap heat. Don’t believe modern audiences aren’t smart enough to know these guys are playing characters?Many wrestlers have received death threats, one of the most recent including Aria Devari Following part of the Greatest Royal Rumble of 2018. The Iranian athlete insulted the country of Saudi Arabia and received negative backlash and death threats.
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