Gunther WWE: Bio, Wiki, Real Name, Age, Height, Weight & Loss, Career, Net Worth, Wife, Finisher, Awards, FAQs & More

Austrian-born Walter Hahn, now popularly known in WWE’s Raw as Gunther, was born on 20 August 1987. Currently, he’s not only the leader of the ‘Imperium’ stable but also holds the record as the longest-reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion in his inaugural reign.

Before achieving fame in WWE, Hahn made waves in independent wrestling circuits, notably as ‘Walter’. His accolades include three titles at Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), a championship in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), and securing the Progress Unified World Champion title. With five world championships to his name, he’s also the pioneer Austrian wrestler in WWE.

Gunther’s WWE journey began in 2019 with the NXT UK brand, where he marked a historic 870-day reign as the NXT UK Champion – a record for the title. In 2022, his trajectory changed when he transitioned to the NXT brand and was rebranded as ‘Gunther’. By April, he had ascended to the SmackDown main roster, clinching the Intercontinental title by June. On September 7th, 2023, Gunther carved his name in WWE history, surpassing The Honky Tonk Man’s 454-day reign to become the longest reigning Intercontinental champion ever.

Delve into life Gunther & his captivating bio, wiki, real name, age, height, weight, and inspiring weight loss journey. Explore his successful career in WWE, gaining insights into his net worth, relationship status with his wife, signature finishing move, accolades, and find answers to frequently asked questions. Uncover the fascinating story of Gunther WWE and his remarkable achievements in the wrestling industry.

Gunther WWE Bio/Wiki

Gunther WWE Early Life

So, Gunther was born on August 20, 1987, in Vienna, Austria. He began training with two well-known Austrian wrestlers, Michael Kovac and Chris Raaber, and quickly established himself as a talented wrestler, appearing in several promotions around Europe. Gunther’s first major achievement was capturing the Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) Heavyweight Championship in 2011. The Ring General, now regarded as one of Europe’s best wrestlers, went on to compete in wXw and other promotions around the continent.

Gunther WWE Parents

There is no information about his parents on the internet. He keeps his parents’ identities private. Also, he doesn’t mention his siblings anywhere. So, there is a possibility that he is the only child of his parents.

Gunther Professional Wrestling Career

Westside Xtreme Wrestling (2007–2020)

Austrian professional wrestler Gunther, known as Walter, stepped into the Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) ring for the first time on 4 May 2007. His debut match at the 16 Carat Gold Tournament included Atsushi Aoki, Adam Polak, and Tengkwa. His first significant win came on 2 October 2010 in Oberhausen, Germany, when he defeated Zack Sabre Jr., clinching the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship. Despite a temporary loss to Daisuke Sekimoto in January 2011, Walter recaptured his title on 2 May 2011 and held onto it for an impressive 383 days.

He also had notable Tag Team victories, partnering with Robert Dreissker and Zack Sabre Jr. respectively, to win the wXw World Tag Team Championship. His final accomplishment in wXw was training at the Wrestling Academy until early 2020.

Progress Wrestling (2015–2019)

As Big Daddy Walter, he debuted in Progress Wrestling on 24 May 2015, at the Super Strong Style 16 Tournament. Despite his initial loss, he demonstrated a notable performance in subsequent tournaments and matches. He secured the Progress Atlas Championship after defeating Matt Riddle in a match at Chapter 51: Screaming For Progress. Even after vacating the Atlas title, he continued his pursuit of the Progress world title and eventually triumphed over Travis Banks at Chapter 74: Mid Week Matters.

Evolve (2017–2019)

Walter’s Evolve debut took place at Evolve 90 on 11 August 2017, where he defended the Progress Atlas Championship against Fred Yehi. While he had unsuccessful challenges for the WWN Championship, his performance remained commendable throughout his tenure.

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2017–2018)

Making his debut at the 2017 Battle of Los Angeles tournament, Walter quickly made a name for himself in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). His major achievement was defeating Keith Lee and Jonah Rock in a three-way match to win the PWG World Championship in April 2018.

Defiant Wrestling (2018)

In Defiant Wrestling, Walter proved to be a formidable opponent. He emerged as the #1 contender for Travis Banks’ title and later won the Defiant Internet Championship in a match against Banks and Zack Sabre Jr. His reign came to an end on 30 December 2018 when he lost the title to Martin Kirby.

Gunther WWE Career

In January 2019, at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Walter made his WWE debut for the NXT UK brand by boldly challenging WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne after Dunne’s successful title defense. Walter then triumphed over Dunne at NXT TakeOver: New York, ending Dunne’s remarkable reign at 685 days.

Formation of Imperium and Retaining the Championship

Further establishing his dominance, Walter retained his title in a rematch against Dunne in May 2019. By joining forces with the European Union, namely Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel, Walter revived Ringkampf under the new moniker, Imperium. The group would soon be joined by Alexander Wolfe, enhancing their collective strength.

The Era of Imperium

Walter retained his title against numerous challengers while leading Imperium. The group would soon find themselves in a feud with The Undisputed Era. Walter’s reign saw the championship renamed to the NXT United Kingdom Championship with a slightly updated belt design.

Walter’s Historic Reign Ends

The historic reign ended at 870 days, marking the longest reign in WWE history since 1988, until it was surpassed by Roman Reigns in 2023. He lost his title to Ilja Dragunov in a critically acclaimed rematch at NXT TakeOver 36.

Transition to Gunther and Moving to NXT

In January 2022, Walter, now known as Gunther, moved to the NXT brand. He swiftly rose through the ranks, defeating notable opponents and culminating in a challenging match against NXT Champion Bron Breakker.

Gunther as the Intercontinental Champion

In April 2022, Gunther made his main roster debut on SmackDown, alongside Marcel Barthel, now known as Ludwig Kaiser. In June, Gunther won the Intercontinental Championship from Ricochet, becoming the first Austrian to win the title.

Successful Title Defenses and Record-setting Reign

As Intercontinental Champion, Gunther successfully defended his title against multiple contenders and set new records. By February 2023, he became the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in the 21st century. He also achieved the longest reign as Intercontinental Champion in 34 years, making him the fifth-longest reigning champion in the title’s history.

Historic Performance at the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania

At the Royal Rumble in January, Gunther delivered a historic performance, being the first entrant and the last person eliminated. His tenure in the ring surpassed many records, excluding Daniel Bryan’s performance in the 50-man Greatest Royal Rumble. He successfully defended his title in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 39, further solidifying his reign.

Drafted to the Raw Brand and Continued Title Defenses

In the 2023 WWE Draft, Gunther, joined by his Imperium allies Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, made their mark on the Raw brand. Gunther’s prowess was evident when he retained the Intercontinental Championship against a series of formidable opponents: Mustafa Ali at Night of Champions on 27 May, Matt Riddle during Money In The Bank on 1 July, and against Drew McIntyre at the iconic SummerSlam on 5 August.

A notable twist occurred on Raw’s 21 August episode. Gunther squared off against Chad Gable, where, in a surprising turn of events, he lost by countout, halting his undefeated singles run on the main roster. Nevertheless, due to WWE’s championship rules which state titles don’t transfer on countouts or disqualifications, Gunther retained his belt.

A subsequent rematch on 4 September saw Gunther triumph over Gable. With this win, he confidently predicted his imminent feat of becoming the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion, a prediction that came true when he surpassed The Honky Tonk Man’s 454-day record later that week.

Gunther successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship title in a series of matches on WWE Raw. On the October 2 episode, he retained his title against Tommaso Ciampa, followed by another victory over Bronson Reed on the October 16 episode. His winning streak continued at Survivor Series: WarGames on November 25, where he triumphed against The Miz. Impressed by Gunther’s skills, The Miz requested a rematch for the title on the November 27 episode of Raw, showing his respect for the champion.

Gunther & SummerSlam 2023

WWE SummerSlam 2023 was a stage for history as Gunther retained the WWE Intercontinental Championship with a clean victory over the returning Drew McIntyre. The match was a hard-hitting, back-and-forth battle that thrilled fans, culminating in a power bomb by Gunther to secure the win.

Drew McIntyre’s return to WWE was surrounded by speculation about his future with the company. Rumors and headlines circulated during his time off, with McIntyre himself acknowledging that there might have been some truth to a few of them. His contract is reportedly due in 2024, and as of this writing, he has yet to sign an extension with WWE.

Gunther’s victory at SummerSlam brings him closer to the Honky Tonk Man’s historic Intercontinental Championship record, which will be broken on September 7. This achievement made Gunther a near-lock to retain the title, but McIntyre’s lingering contract status added an extra layer of intrigue to the match. WWE could have used the dethroning of Gunther as a bargaining chip to entice Drew to stay, or perhaps they are playing hardball, refusing to allow McIntyre to progress until he is signed.

While McIntyre’s status as a top star has taken a tumble due to circumstances outside of his control, Gunther’s dominance continues to grow. His victory at SummerSlam solidifies his place in WWE history, and his pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship record adds to his legacy. As Gunther nears this historic milestone, fans are eagerly watching to see if he will break the record and continue his reign as one of WWE’s most formidable champions. His performance at SummerSlam 2023 is a testament to his skill, determination, and place in the upper echelons of professional wrestling.

Gunther WWE Net Worth 2023

Gunther, as of 2023, has a total net worth of approximately $3 million. This wealth is largely due to his successful career in WWE, where he is one of the highest-paid wrestlers. His annual salary from WWE is estimated to be around $300,000.

Gunther has eclipsed another figure in terms of WWE Intercontinental Championship reigns, becoming the champion with the most reigns since the historic reign of the Honky Tonk Man.

Gunther WWE Wife & Children

Walter Hahn, better known by his ring name Gunther, is a well-known professional wrestler. In his personal life, he is married to Jinny, a former NXT UK icon. The couple reportedly tied the knot recently, marking a significant chapter in their relationship. However, as per the available records, they have not had any children together yet​​.

Hahn is currently in a committed relationship with his wife, Jinny. Their relationship has attracted attention due to their shared profession in the wrestling industry. Despite the high-pressure nature of their professional lives, they have successfully managed to maintain a strong bond, which is evident in their recent marriage. Therefore, as of now, Walter Hahn’s relationship status is married​​.

Gunther WWE Weight Loss

Gunther, the WWE Intercontinental Champion, has undergone a significant body transformation, losing around 60-65 pounds. Despite this weight loss, he continues to be a dominant performer on the roster. The inspiration behind his weight loss was the physique of the big Japanese heavyweights, which he admired and felt suited his style. He stated that he always loved the look of chunky foreign heavyweights like Stan Hansen, Terry Gordy, Vader, and Scott Norton.

Gunther revealed that his decision to lose weight was a personal one, and not influenced by WWE. He believed that by changing his appearance, he could look more appealing and represent the brand in the best way possible. He expressed, “I kind of knew moving over that I was going to change some stuff, even though I didn’t know exactly what it was. But I always thought like I have to do my part. I have to show that I’m adapting and I have to show that I put the work in for change.” The transformation did not affect his in-ring abilities, and he continues to hold the Intercontinental Champion title​​.

Gunther WWE 2K22

Walter (Walter Hahn) is an Austrian professional wrestler who participates on the WWE show NXT. In WWE 2K22, Walter gets an overall rating of 86. His character in the game has Disciplined Personal Traits with a Resiliency Payback. He is also a playable part of the Tag Team Imperium in WWE 2K22. The top line graph shows his Weekly Rating Movement, while the game characteristics on WWE 2K22 are presented below.

• 76 General Attributes
• 75 Pin Escape
• 80 Strength
• 75 Stamina
• 70 Agility
• 65 Movement Speed
• 80 Recovery
• 80 Special
• 85 Finisher

Gunther WWE Age

Born on August 20, 1987, the Austrian professional wrestler Walter Hahn is known to his fans as Gunther. Currently affiliated with WWE, Gunther competes on the Raw brand, showcasing his skills at the ripe age of 36.

Gunther WWE Nationality

Gunther was born and raised in Vienna, carrying the Austrian nationality with pride. Making a mark on the international stage, he holds the distinction of being the first Austrian wrestler to grace the ring in WWE.

Gunther WWE Height

Towering at a height of 6 feet 4 inches, Gunther is a formidable figure in the wrestling world. His physically intimidating presence is complemented by a muscular, well-toned body – a testament to his rigorous workout regimen.

Resembling the stature of “Big Show” during his early wrestling days, Gunther has worked tirelessly in the gym, transforming his body to compete on the grand stage of WWE. A sneak peek at the aftermath of his epic bout with Sheamus at Clash at the Castle, especially the visible scars left by Gunther’s powerful chops, would make any opponent wish for his less terrifying previous form.

Gunther WWE Weight

Gunther’s noticeable weight loss after his shift from NXT UK to WWE SmackDown marked a significant turning point in his wrestling career. The superstar may have shed around 60-65 pounds, but this hasn’t dampened his dominance in the ring. Currently, Gunther weighs approximately 297 lbs, a fitting weight for one of the most dominant players in the team.

Gunther WWE Awards

Gunther, whose real name is Walter Hahn, has won several awards and accomplished significant feats in WWE and other wrestling promotions:

• He is the current WWE Intercontinental Champion in his first reign, which is the longest reign of the 21st century and the fourth longest reign in the championship’s history.
• Before becoming Gunther, he wrestled as Walter and was a one-time NXT United Kingdom Champion. His reign as NXT UK Champion lasted 870 days, the longest for that title.
• Since his debut on WWE’s main roster, Gunther is undefeated in singles matches and became the first Austrian to ever win a match at WrestleMania, which he accomplished at WrestleMania 39.

Aside from WWE, Gunther has competed in numerous independent wrestling promotions around the globe:

• In Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), he was a three-time wXw Unified World Wrestling Champion.
• In Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), he held the PWG World Championship once.
• In Progress Wrestling, he was a Progress Unified World Champion.

Overall, Gunther is a five-time world champion in wrestling and was the first Austrian to compete in WWE.

Gunther WWE Finisher

Gunther’s finishing move in WWE is called “The Last Symphony”, which is the WWE’s name for the move “Emerald Flowsion”, a move popularized by Japanese wrestling legend Mitsuharu Misawa.

The Emerald Flowsion is a sitout side powerslam. In this move, the wrestler lifts the opponent up on his left shoulder, similar to a front powerslam. The wrestler wraps his right arm around the opponent’s neck, and the left arm around the opponent’s torso. Then, the wrestler sits down while flipping the opponent forward to the right side, driving the opponent’s neck and shoulder first into the mat.

A variation of this move is called either Emerald Flowsion Custom, Vertical Drop Emerald Flowsion, or Emerald Flowsion Kai. In this variation, the wrestler lifts his opponent upside down as in a vertical suplex, turns him 180° while still keeping the front facelock, places his right arm around the opponent’s torso, and sits down leaning to his right, driving the opponent vertically down to the mat on his neck and shoulders​.

There is also an inverted version of this move, known as the Inverted Emerald Flowsion or Inverted Sitout Side Powerslam. In this version, the wrestler lifts the opponent up onto one of their shoulders, facing upwards. From this position, the wrestler then sits down and simultaneously flips the opponent forwards and downwards, slamming them down to the ground face-first to one side of the wrestler.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Walter called Gunther?

Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer revealed that WWE altered WALTER’s ring name to Gunther for the typical reason: trademarking. Gunther’s true name is Walter Hahn, which precludes WWE from acquiring the trademark “WALTER.”

What is Gunther’s net worth?

As of 2023, Gunther has a total net worth of approximately $3 million. His wealth mainly comes from his successful career in WWE, where he is one of the highest-paid wrestlers with an annual salary estimated at around $300,000.

Who is Gunther married to and does he have any children?

Gunther, whose real name is Walter Hahn, is married to Jinny, a former NXT UK icon. The couple recently tied the knot. According to the available records, they have not had any children together yet.

What was the motivation behind Gunther’s weight loss?

Gunther underwent a significant body transformation, losing around 60-65 pounds. He was inspired by the physique of the big Japanese heavyweights, such as Stan Hansen, Terry Gordy, Vader, and Scott Norton, which he admired and felt suited his style. His decision to lose weight was a personal one, and not influenced by WWE.

What is Gunther’s rating in WWE 2K22?

In WWE 2K22, Walter Hahn, known as Gunther, has an overall rating of 86. He has Disciplined Personal Traits with a Resiliency Payback and is a playable part of the Tag Team Imperium.

How old is Gunther in WWE?

Born on August 20, 1987, Gunther is currently 36 years old.

What is Gunther’s nationality?

Gunther, originally from Vienna, is the first Austrian wrestler to compete in WWE.

What is Gunther’s height?

Gunther stands at a height of 6 feet 4 inches, making him a formidable presence in the wrestling world.

What is Gunther’s weight after his transformation?

After shedding around 60-65 pounds, Gunther currently weighs approximately 297 lbs.

What are some notable awards and achievements of Gunther in WWE?

Gunther has several accolades to his name, including being the current WWE Intercontinental Champion with the longest reign of the 21st century. Before becoming Gunther, he wrestled as Walter and had an 870-day reign as the NXT UK Champion, the longest for that title. He also became the first Austrian to ever win a match at WrestleMania.

What is Gunther’s finishing move in WWE?

Gunther’s finishing move in WWE is “The Last Symphony”, a version of “Emerald Flowsion”, a move popularized by Japanese wrestling legend Mitsuharu Misawa. It’s a sitout side powerslam, where the wrestler lifts the opponent on his shoulder and then flips the opponent forward, driving the opponent’s neck and shoulder first into the mat.