Unfortunate update on Giovanni Vinci by wrestling veteran
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser have quietly gone their separate ways on WWE RAW, eight months after booting Giovanni Vinci out of Imperium. The group, at present, seems to be non-existent.
Giovanni Vinci was viciously attacked by Ludwig Kaiser in April after The Ring General ordered the latter to get rid of the weak link. Vinci was then removed from television. By August, WWE began airing vignettes on SmackDown to re-introduce the Italian wrestler. However, his in-ring return on the blue brand was panned by viewers and critics alike, through no fault of the athlete himself but the booking.
Speaking on Keepin' It 100, Konnan speculated that Vinci has legitimate backstage heat, which is why the company is not utilizing him. The 34-year-old was quickly pinned by Apollo Crews in September and was rarely used after that.
"It's usually that [Giovanni Vinci has heat or he did something WWE told him not to do], it's usually that. You've got heat, and they're not going to use you. They're not going to push you anymore. So, who knows what he did," Konnan said. [From 1:01 to 1:09]
Giovanni joined Imperium on the main roster at Clash at the Castle 2022, right before Gunther defended his IC Championship against Sheamus. His association with the European group ended after WrestleMania XL.
Booker T feels Giovanni Vinci should not have joined Imperium upon WWE main roster debut
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T discussed Giovanni Vinci a few months back on his Hall of Fame podcast, addressing Vinci's repackaging.
He feels that Vinci always played second fiddle to Gunther, which was the same sentiment he felt for Ludwig Kaiser. However, the 34-year-old got lost in the shuffle, perhaps a little more than Kaiser, because the latter already had established his relationship dynamic with The Ring General.
"Man, I thought [Giovanni Vinci] had a great look and I thought his work was not bad either. I really think coming in with the Imperium, putting him in that group thing, it kind of maybe lost him in the shuffle a little bit because anytime you’re playing second to Gunther, you’re going to be playing second," Booker T said. "I just don’t think it was a good thing him actually being a part of Imperium when he first came in." [H/T: WrestlingNews.co]
WWE's attempt to repackage Vinci, as seen in the video above, clearly did not work through the lens of its fanbase. But then again, the company did not really give it a chance, either.
If you use the first quote, please credit K100 and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.