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El Grande Americano

Masked professional wrestling character

El Grande Americano

El Grande Americano is a professional wrestling character in the American professional wrestling promotion WWE and its Mexican subsidiary Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). Originally portrayed by Chad Gable, the El Grande Americano gimmick debuted in WWE in March 2025. In July 2025, the character began appearing in AAA, now portrayed by Ludwig Kaiser.

El Grande Americano
El Grande Americano
WWE and AAA character
Ludwig Kaiser as El Grande Americano in August 2025
First appearanceWWE Raw
March 24, 2025
Portrayed byChad Gable (2025–2026)
Ludwig Kaiser (2025–present)
In-universe information
OriginGulf of America[1]
Height6 ft 3 in[1]
Weight220 lb[1]

El Grande Americano (Spanish For 'the Great American') is a professional wrestling character in the American professional wrestling promotion WWE and its Mexican subsidiary Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). Originally portrayed by Chad Gable, the El Grande Americano gimmick debuted in WWE in March 2025. In July 2025, the character began appearing in AAA, now portrayed by Ludwig Kaiser.

History

In 2025, after American wrestler Chad Gable lost to various luchadores,[2] he began to portray a lucha libre mask and began to work as El Grande Americano.[3][4] As Americano, Gable won the WWE Speed Championship on May 2025.[5][6]

When Gable was sidelined with a legitimate rotator cuff injury in June,[7][8] the character began to be used by German wrestler Ludwig Kaiser.[9][10] Kaiser worked as Americano in WWE and the Mexican partner promotion, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) since July 2025.[11] He eventually formed the Los Americanos stable alongside Rayo Americano and Bravo Americano.[12][13][14]

At the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026, Grande Americano entered the Men's Royal Rumble match at number 12, only to be eliminated by "The Original" El Grande Americano, who entered at 13.[15] They started an on-screen feud that culminated in a Máscara contra Máscara at Noche de Los Grandes on May 30, where Kaiser defeated Gable.[16]

Cultural impact

When Gable began to use the character, it drew significant criticism from Mexican audiences, who viewed the gimmick as a mockery of national wrestling traditions.[17]

After Kaiser took the character, he began to win over the Mexican audience. He performed "Cielito Lindo" during his entrance.[18] Before the Máscara contra Máscara, a mural of El Grande Americano was drawn at Monterrey.[19]

While Gable's version was seen as a mockery to lucha libre, Kaiser's version was praised for the respect to Mexico and lucha libre tradition, introducing Mexican cultural references like singing Cielito Lindo, being billed from Tangamandapio (from where Jaimito, a El Chavo del Ocho character, was billed), and being fan of soccer Club América or El Santo.[20] Noah Club composed a corrido to honor El Grande Americano.[21] Kaiser also spoke Spanish as El Grande Americano.[22]

The Máscara contra Máscara was highly praised.[23][24] Pro wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer said it was "one of the great match presentations of all-time".[25] Despite the match being broadcast on YouTube, WWE also made the match available on Netflix days later once Raw concluded.[26] The match drew over 2 million viewers on YouTube.[27]

Academic Erick Suaste stated that the Máscara contra Máscara was "cultural appropriation", since they were two non-Mexican wrestlers and WWE is a global promotion that took Mexican traditions to sell tickets. Content creator Eduardo Bates praised the match, pointing that it gives a global relevance to the mask and the storyline was about respect and legacy.[28]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 "El Grande Americano". WWE.com. WWE. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  2. ↑ Powell, Jason (January 20, 2025). "WWE Raw results (1/20): Powell's live review of Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre, Bayley vs. Nia Jax, Penta's second week, New Day's return to the ring, JBL's appearance". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ Powell, Jason (March 10, 2025). "WWE Raw results (3/10): Powell's live review of CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins in a cage match, New Day vs. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee in a tornado match, Jey Uso vs. Grayson Waller". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on February 21, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  4. ↑ Powell, Jason (March 24, 2025). "WWE Raw results (3/24): Powell's live review of Cody Rhodes, John Cena, and CM Punk appearances, Bron Breakker vs. Penta for the Intercontinental Title, Lyra Valkyria vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the Women's Intercontinental Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on February 19, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (May 6, 2025). "Spoiler: New WWE Speed Champion Crowned". Fightful. Archived from the original on July 28, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (May 7, 2025). "El Grande Americano Wins WWE Speed Championship". Fightful. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (June 24, 2025). "Report: Chad Gable Dealing With Undisclosed Injury". Fightful. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (July 27, 2025). "Chad Gable Confirms He's Sidelined With A Rotator Cuff Injury". Fightful. Archived from the original on July 30, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  9. ↑ Powell, Jason (June 30, 2025). "WWE Raw results (6/30): Powell's live review of New Day vs. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh for the World Tag Team Titles, Rusev vs. Sheamus". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on September 10, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ Powell, Jason (July 7, 2025). "WWE Raw results (7/7): Powell's live review of Seth Rollins vs. Penta, Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed, Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker, Roxanne Perez vs. Kairi Sane, the brand's final push for WWE Evolution". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 7, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ Thomas, Jeremy (July 26, 2025). "AAA Alianzas Results 7.25.25: Alberto El Patron Loses Match To Stay In AAA, More". 411Mania. Archived from the original on July 26, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ Powell, Jason (July 28, 2025). "WWE Raw results (7/28): Powell's live review of appearances by Roman Reigns, Gunther, and CM Punk, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh vs. Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro for the World Tag Team Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  13. ↑ Powell, Jason (August 4, 2025). "WWE Raw results (8/4): Powell's live review of SummerSlam fallout with new World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women's Tag Champs Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, Sheamus vs. Rusev". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 13, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy. "Bravo And Rayo Revealed As Names For Los Americanos Tag Team". Fightful. Archived from the original on April 18, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ Powell, Jason (January 31, 2026). "WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship, AJ Styles putting his career on the line against Gunther". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on February 1, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ Vetter, Chris (May 31, 2026). "Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide results (5/30): Vetter's review of Original El Grande Americano vs. El Grande Americano in a mask vs. mask match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  17. ↑ Delgado, Toni (March 26, 2026). "El personaje de El Grande Americano genera rechazo entre fans de la lucha libre mexicana". SoloWrestling (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ Nason, Josh (August 16, 2025). "AAA Triplemania XXXIII live results: Four-way Mega title match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on August 17, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  19. ↑ "El Grande Americano se vuelve viral tras emotiva reacción a su mural". RÉCORD (in Spanish). 2026-05-28. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  20. ↑ https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-05-30/la-rivalidad-del-grande-americano-como-una-historia-que-se-mofaba-de-la-lucha-libre-conquisto-al-publico-mexicano.html
  21. ↑ https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-05-30/la-rivalidad-del-grande-americano-como-una-historia-que-se-mofaba-de-la-lucha-libre-conquisto-al-publico-mexicano.html
  22. ↑ Zorrilla, Mikel (2026-05-29). "Todo el mundo quiere a El Grande Americano. Cómo el rudo que se burlaba de México se ha convertido en un ídolo de la lucha libre". Espinof (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  23. ↑ https://solowrestling.com/new/148894-jbl-elogia-a-chad-gable-y-a-ludwig-kaiser-tras-la-lucha-de-mascaras-en-aaa
  24. ↑ https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/bayley-praises-chad-gable-following-aaa-noche-de-los-grandes/
  25. ↑ Carey, Ian (2026-05-31). "Chad Gable, The Undertaker, more comment on AAA Noche de Los Grandes". F4W/WON. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  26. ↑ "WWE sorprende en Netflix con la repetición de la lucha de máscara contra máscara del Grande Americano". RÉCORD (in Spanish). 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  27. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2026-06-02). "'Noche de los Grandes' & El Grande Americano Mask vs. Mask Match Draws Over 2 Million Viewers". Variety. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  28. ↑ Jornada, La; Quintanilla, Joshua Reyes Sámano y Omar Mendoza (2026-05-29). "Los dos rostros del Grande Americano: sátira en EU y héroe en México". La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-06-03.