What's Next For Chad Gable in WWE After Run as El Grande Americano?

After a spectacular mask vs. mask match at AAA's Noche de Los Grandes, Chad Gable is poised for a long-overdue run with WWE.

WWE got much more mileage out of El Grande Americano than anyone could've ever expected. What seemed like a throwaway angle turned into a year-long feud that culminated in one of the best matches of 2026.

The original Superstar, who donned a luchador mask, deserves a lot of credit for turning a kooky bit into one of the company's best storylines of the year.

Yes, the current iteration took the gimmick to another level as a multilingual performer with loads of charisma. Still, Gable ultimately made a perfect foil for him because he leaned into the outlandish angle with such conviction.

Where other wrestlers may have fizzled out, he found success due to his comedic, in-ring acumen, and underrated mic skills. His heartwarming speech in defeat was also proof of this versatility and ability to connect with the audience.

This isn't a surprise to many fans who have been singing his praises since his time with NXT, though. Hopefully, his improbable performance as the "Original" El Grande Americano leads to more big opportunities.

The Best Kept Secret

Gable's work with AAA has been incredible. Many regarded his 2025 Mega Championship bout against El Hijo del Vikingo from Worlds Collide: Los Angeles as a match of the year contender.

Although his tenure as the "Original" El Grande Americano is what most fans will remember, the former Olympian has been WWE's best-kept secret for some time. He has been saddled with a horrendous gimmick like Shorty G, but his in-ring work and infectious personality always shine through.

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The closing moments of Noche de Los Grandes reminded viewers that he's truly at his best as a relatable underdog. His portrayal of a family man who wanted to create a legacy that his children could be proud of gained support during his 2023 feud with Gunther.

To this day, fans lament about what could've been if he had dethroned The Ring General and ended his historic Intercontinental title reign. Instead, Gable turned heel the following year and astonishingly managed to adapt again.

What's Next For Chad Gable?

Still, it's unclear if WWE will ever see the 13-year veteran as many fans do. He's such a tremendous talent. It may be unrealistic to say he's a potential world champion, but he's definitely good enough to be an upper midcarder.

On "Busted Open," Bully Ray questioned whether his character development with AAA would translate to Raw.

"I'm very interested to see where this goes because the most over Chad Gable has ever been in his career was what he just did in Mexico. He's been doing El Grande Americano on the main roster for a while. Did it resonate with the US fans the same way it resonated with Mexican fans?" he asked. "So we're asking all of the United States or the rest of the world to be as emotionally involved, invested in Chad Gable without the mask on, as Mexican fans were invested in him with the mask on."

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It's a valid point because El Grande Americano was mostly played up as a one-note joke on WWE programming. His storyline with AAA was much more effective, and the Arena Monterrey crowd was invested when he showed humility in the end.

WWE is on the right track, adding the mask vs. mask match in its entirety to the end of this week's episode of Raw. Still, time will tell whether the audience responds to him as well when he returns from Mexico.

Hopefully, the creative team sees what they have in Gable now and puts him in the best position to succeed. If nothing else, the company should reward his tenacity and ability to weave its brand of sports entertainment into gold.