Imperium – A Classic Pro Wrestling Faction

It is impossible to peruse pro wrestling websites today, without seeing mentions of the current WWE Intercontinental Champion, Gunther. The man is an absolute master in ring storyteller and is one of the longest reigning Intercontinental Champions of all time. I have yet to see a single underwhelming match when the “Ring General” was involved.

Outside of the ring, Gunther is a believable and rich character that is tailor made for pro wrestling. He is 1000% percent committed to the role and it shows, every week. Gunther reminds me of the old school heels from the 80’s, where he doesn’t even have to speak, he just looks absolutely menacing. When he does speak, he commands the microphone. It is typically short and sweet, but he gets his point across in a digestable manner.

Gunther is well on his way up the ladder, primed to grab the so coveted WWE brass ring. But he isn’t doing it all on his own. Of course, I am speaking of his Imperium faction. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci are the perfect pair to complete the Imperium trilogy. Ludwig has quickly become one of the best orators in the industry, and his character work is phenomenal. He has an incredible amount of talent and I believe we have only scratched the surface of what the man is truly capable of. Vinci plays the strong, silent type very well and is a solid in ring performer. He is a perfect choice to round out the faction.

I love the way the WWE is presenting this stable. The entrance theme, the minimalist approach to the jumbotron, the lighting schemes, are all just top notch, fantastic work. It’s one of those pro wrestling entrances that just grabs your attention immediately. The silhouette of three of them standing shoulder to shoulder in front of a bright white backdrop has become an almost iconic image in pro wrestling.

So far, the WWE has done an incredible job with the Imperium as a whole. They continue to book them strongly which continues to solidify their draw as credible heels. It is refreshing to see a group like this get over organically with the audience more and more each week. This group doesn’t feel forced like we have seen in so many stables in the past. I suppose this is in part due to the way they were transitioned from NXT to main roster. No goofy masks or cringy gimmicks, just old school heel heat.

In a few weeks, Gunther will likely pass Honkey Tonk Man as the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. It will solidify his status as one of the hottest talents in the business today as well as one of the greatest champions in company history. His run is unprecedented in the modern era. It’s wild to think that this is just the beginning of his career on the main roster. It’s only a matter of time before the WWE straps a rocket to his back and pushes this generational talent to the moon.

There is no doubt. Imperium is ready for the biggest stages and the brightest lights of pro wrestling. I can’t wait to see what they do next.