Characters are a major part of professional wrestling. Being great in the ring is one thing, but having a character that draws in fan interest can take a performer to another level. Chad Gable and Ludwig Kaiser are two performers who check both those boxes. Yet, they’ve both been saddled with the role of playing El Grande Americano. That “gimmick” has run its course, and it's time for it to go away.
Comedy will always have a place in professional wrestling. Performers like Ron Killings, Orange Cassidy, and Chelsea Green have made a career out of perfecting comedic timing as a professional wrestler and that skill has paid dividends for their careers. Chad Gable has shown he can do the same, and it looks like Ludwig Kaiser is adding his name to the list. However, there are growing conversations that both Gable and Kaiser have so much more to offer the WWE roster, while the shtick of El Grande Americano is more about embarrassing an aspect of Latino culture rather than honoring it.
First, let’s discuss the character of El Grande Americano. Under the mask, a white male performer goes through all the motions of being an exaggerated version of a luchador. From the American flag inspired gear to the basic Spanish catchphrases, these aspects of the character are meant to make fans laugh.
Rather than be excited about the luchador stylings of some amazing performers on the roster, WWE has invested time in getting over what some may call a minstrel-like form of a luchador, investing more time in El Grande Americano than they have the likes of Rey Fenix, Dragon Lee, Andrade, and even Penta. That is one of the big issues with seeing this character still pushed so many months since its inception.
Then there’s the idea that Chad Gable and Ludwig Kaiser are being used in this way. There was a time when fans were pushing to see Gable defeat GUNTHER in what would have been a career-defining win at WrestleMania. That didn’t happen. Not only did it not happen, but Gable was further away from a title victory before his injury pushed him to the sidelines.
Kaiser was identified as someone who had the makings to be a major star of the future. He has the look, personality, and in-ring abilities of a performer who would be a solid addition to the upper mid-card. There were some who were even pushing to see him eventually face Gunther as well. That doesn’t seem to be on the horizon, as he went from being stuck in catering to now being the man under a mask.
Is El Grande Americano as bad as “Short G?” Probably not. But is it the type of gimmick and character that will lead to something big for either Ludwig Kaiser or Chad Gable? Probably not. This character has run its course, and it's time to see something different for everyone involved.