10 WWE Success Stories Absolutely NOBODY Saw Coming

Based on the way WWE had handled the vast majority of the other once-promising names eventually called up to the apparent "big leagues", fans were understandably a little worried about what Vince McMahon and co. would have in mind for the performer formerly known as WALTER.

However, things didn't actually get off to that terrible a start for The Ring General, with GUNTHER bulldozing his way through the SmackDown roster en-route to picking up the Intercontinental Championship after conquering Ricochet on June 10.

History has shown that even a positive early spell can ultimately turn into a nightmare under Vinnie Mac's watch, though, and many unfortunately felt that it would only be a matter of time before the one-time boss lost interest in the dominant Austrian.

Sure enough, before leaving WWE in disgrace in July, Vince reportedly planned on burying the former NXT UK Champion after not being all that impressed by his performance on the July 4 edition of Raw.

But luckily for the Imperium leader, eventual new head of creative Triple H was and is incredibly high on GUNTHER. So, instead of being embarrassed and sent back down to NXT, the violent, all-conquering heel has been given the opportunity to become one of the few real main roster call-up success stories.