WRESTLING NEWS
GUNTHER's WWE 2K23 Rating Changed Amidst Fan Concerns About Nazi Symbolism
By DAVID BIXENSPAN
Wrestler ratings are being revealed for the upcoming WWE 2K23 video game, and reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER got an overall rating of 88 — with many fans expressing frustration and dismay as the number is commonly used as a Nazi dog whistle. 2K Sports then quickly bumped his rating to 89, with GUNTHER also sharing the increase.
When he was informed of his WWE 2K23 rating, GUNTHER was less than pleased, although he didn't seem to let on that it might have been due to the Nazi association. "It's a little bit low, I think," he said. "But to be fair, I give them that usually those games get developed a little bit back in time ...so I think maybe, a few months ago, it was accurate, but by now? Come on."
In the past, WWE has dodged some near links between Imperium and Nazis — most notably, WWE nearly renamed the man then known as WALTER after World War II Nazi submarine commander Gunther Stark, later set as just GUNTHER. This also comes on the heels of Bill Goldberg, arguably the most famous Jewish wrestler of all time, who received an 88 rating in last year's game.