r.
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Bye
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Post by r. on Jan 19, 2022 11:55:27 GMT -5
No. There's no excuse for it. It's wrong and detestable. It's indefensible. They should be called out for it. Claiming ignorance is unacceptable. You said it yourself, they've done this in the past. That makes them 100% in the wrong for doing it. Yes, they used a Nazi name. They could've looked it up, and didn't, so that makes them responsible for it. They do not deserve defense. It is not a defence to say the truth.It is just the goddamn truth. They trademarked (didn't even use) a name that is similar but not identical to that of an obscure WWII submarine commander, but also happens to be a reasonably common German name, and they almost certainly just hadn't checked when they trademarked it. Then they either checked later or preemptively decided they hated Stark for whatever reason and had him call himself "Gunther". Calling that a tempest in a teapot is an insult to teapot tempests, which could at least scald someone. I'm sorry that in this one particular specific instance it is pretty clear that WWE are just dumb and not actively malevolent, but next week I'm sure they'll fire someone for having cancer or something and we can bask in the warm glow of hating them when they actually deserve it. Pretty much what I've been getting at. It was a dumb move no matter how you look at it.
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nisidhe
Hank Scorpio
O Superman....O judge....O Mom and Dad....
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Post by nisidhe on Jan 19, 2022 12:07:27 GMT -5
The worst aspect of all this is that renaming WALTER has had the impact of causing a side-eye to be cast towards Imperium as a whole.
I mean, the faction was a subtle nod to authoritarianism, but it was nuanced enough that it could be glossed over. Just a group of really uptight wrestling purists.
The instant the story broke about WWE trademarking Gunther Stark, that nuance was stripped away entirely. And just after a possible betrayer of Anne Frank's family has been identified.
Alexander Wolfe might be the luckiest SOB on the planet at the moment.
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asuka007
Fry's dog Seymour
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Post by asuka007 on Jan 19, 2022 12:15:56 GMT -5
And some fans wonder why Mustafa Ali wants out now?
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pinja
Unicron
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Post by pinja on Jan 19, 2022 12:21:36 GMT -5
I'll try it again: In the post war period German names were used less and less because they were associated with the Nazis. That is why typically millennials are NOT called Günther/Gunther (nor Walter, but Austria is a slightly different case), but Sebastian, Dominik, Alexander and the like. Walter is a millennial. He is not the brother of Hans Jörg or the sister of Elfriede Magdalena. Günther being a common German name does not mean it's a common name amongst Walter's generation. It is not.
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r.
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Bye
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Post by r. on Jan 19, 2022 12:22:43 GMT -5
And some fans wonder why Mustafa Ali wants out now? Rumor has it he was to be renamed Prince Ali Ababwa
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asuka007
Fry's dog Seymour
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Post by asuka007 on Jan 19, 2022 12:28:25 GMT -5
And some fans wonder why Mustafa Ali wants out now? Rumor has it he was to be renamed Prince Ali Ababwa Mustafa Hassan.
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Post by theironyuppie on Jan 19, 2022 12:29:21 GMT -5
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Jan 19, 2022 12:31:20 GMT -5
I don't think Waller deserves the spot he's got right now, but even I have to admit this is pretty funny.
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Wieners=$$$
Hank Scorpio
Gif Master Extraordinaire
I Miss You Peanut😥
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Post by Wieners=$$$ on Jan 19, 2022 12:31:31 GMT -5
I rarely say this, but fire this man.
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Fade
Patti Mayonnaise
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Post by Fade on Jan 19, 2022 12:33:29 GMT -5
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Post by häšhtå.gdālėÿ on Jan 19, 2022 12:35:52 GMT -5
This shithead is great. Lmao
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Post by sportatorium on Jan 19, 2022 12:44:40 GMT -5
He's still listed as WALTER on WWE.com on both the roster and the recap from last night. Wonder if they had second thoughts and are just hoping it erases from memory at some point?
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asuka007
Fry's dog Seymour
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Post by asuka007 on Jan 19, 2022 12:55:58 GMT -5
It also just speaks to WWE’s supreme arrogance as well.
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Jan 19, 2022 12:58:24 GMT -5
He's still listed as WALTER on WWE.com on both the roster and the recap from last night. Wonder if they had second thoughts and are just hoping it erases from memory at some point? Wouldn't be shocked. It's getting actual pickup here stateside now, including this article from Sports Illustrated. www.si.com/extra-mustard/2022/01/19/wwe-nxt-walter-gunther-stark-nazi-trademarkDoesn't mean they won't change his name, but I question if they'll keep Gunther.
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Jan 19, 2022 13:27:55 GMT -5
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Square
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Official Ambassador
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Square-Because he looks good at all the right angles.
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Post by Square on Jan 19, 2022 13:34:15 GMT -5
So no one told you life was gonna be this way?
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Jan 19, 2022 13:36:55 GMT -5
Wait a minute, it’s not ALL CAPS? OK, NOW I’m mad.
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Bang Bang Bart
Ozymandius
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Post by Bang Bang Bart on Jan 19, 2022 13:40:06 GMT -5
He should be Gunther “Freakin’” Rollins.
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Post by Jaws the Shark on Jan 19, 2022 13:40:17 GMT -5
I was talking about this with a friend today, and he reckoned this was basically the kiss of death for him. This name change has gone over so badly that it’s potentially killed him before he’s really started and made him one of those wrestlers who they’ll be bored with in six weeks.
I remembered today that Gunther was the name of the alter ego of eccentric (probably mentally ill) South African cricket player Andre Nel, which he described as an oxygen-starved mountain man. I wonder if this’ll be TAFKA Walter’s new gimmick when this tanks.
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Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Jan 19, 2022 13:42:45 GMT -5
So no one told you life was gonna be this way? CHOPCHOPCHOP CHOP CHOP
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