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Gunther's reign of terror in WWE hasn't really needed Imperium, but as always, strength lies in numbers. The World Heavyweight Champion has been one of the most dominant stars in the company, and he has his right-hand man, Ludwig Kaiser, by his side. What if the Ring General were to tighten his hold on WWE RAW further and recruit two powerhouses as new members of his faction?
The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) would be two mammoths that would help Imperium further become the most dominant group in WWE. The only problem is that the former NXT and RAW Tag Team Champions are sidelined with serious injuries.
Erik has been absent since September 2023 after undergoing neck fusion surgery. The last update on the 39-year-old was that he was waiting to be cleared by the doctors but was physically in good condition.
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Ivar unfortunately suffered a spinal injury on an episode of NXT in May, and he also underwent surgery. The 40-year-old raised doubts about his future in pro wrestling due to his latest injury setback.
If the Viking Raiders make healthy recoveries and are cleared to compete, they could be perfect options to help bolster Imperium. Their hard-hitting style is similar to Gunther's.
Imperium is short of numbers after Ludwig Kaiser kicked Giovanni Vinci out of the group three months ago. The World Champion could do with more backup, as he has a target on his back while holding the title.
Several other factions in WWE have significantly more numbers. Judgment Day 2.0 has five members, Solo Sikoa's Bloodline has four, and The Wyatt Sicks has five. If Imperium are going to rule the roost, they'll need more soldiers.
Gunther asked why Imperium would add more members before Giovanni Vinci's shock dismissal on WWE RAW
Imperium formed in May 2019 while Gunther was in NXT UK, dominating the developmental scene in WWE. He enlisted the help of Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci, and Alexander Wolfe.
That four-man faction would become three when Wolfe was attacked and kicked out in May 2021. Vinci also exited for a short period in 2022, allowing the other two to arrive on the main roster as a duo.
However, Kaiser reintroduced the WWE Universe to Vinci, previously known as Fabian Aichner. The trio ran riot for several months on RAW and SmackDown, and their leader was adamant there would be no additions. He said in February:
"There's no plans for that, no. It's not a group where it's like 'We've got to fill those spots. Who do we take?' It either naturally comes together or it doesn't come together. I've known both of them for a long time now, especially Kaiser. [H/T WrestlingInc].
Gunther didn't plan to add more members, but he planned to dismiss one: Vinci. Kaiser did the dirty work by destroying him on RAW in April, and the faction has been a two-man unit ever since.
