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Chad Gable has recently revealed that the idea for the El Grande Americano wrestling character was his idea, and that he takes a great deal of pride in knowing it was such a success. Gable explained that he wanted to take his ongoing story with luchadors to the next level, and thought that putting on a mask would help support that.
Even though the idea started as a way to add another level to the storyline, it ended up becoming a big movement for the wrestling world. An injury forced Gable to step away from the ring, but as he was wearing a mask, other wrestlers were able to step into the El Grande Americano role. His eventual return coincided with a Mask vs. Mask match.
The changing roles gave the character more mystery, and it increased the stakes, as more than one person was stepping into the role of El Grande Americano. Gable confirmed that it couldn’t have worked out any better. Gable didn’t just put on a mask either; he used it as a way to give the rivalry a more distinctive identity while forcing it in a new, positive direction.
Lucha libre is one of Mexico’s most recognisable forms of culture, as it helps to combine colourful characters with storytelling.
Legends like El Santo and Blue Demon laid the foundation for wrestling and showed how powerful it can be, and they also helped to showcase the lasting impact of losing a mask. After all, a mask isn’t just a costume change; it’s about giving up the identity that a wrestler has spent years making, and for Chad Gable, this was something he really wanted to explore.
Mexican masks have an extensive history. They have been used in celebrations for many years.
During Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, skull imagery, flowers, and folk-art patterns are used to remember people. Masks are worn for the Parachicos dance in Chiapa de Corzo. Their influence has spread to the entertainment world.
Spectre, the 2015 James Bond film, opened with a huge Day of the Dead parade sequence in Mexico City. It was filmed in collaboration with local folklore acts, who built a Catrina doll for the occasion. Mexicans liked it so much that the parade became a tradition and is now celebrated every November.
The Mexico: Day of the Dead podcast covers the celebration and the rich visuals that are associated with it. In iGaming, when playing Slingo people may also notice Día de los Muertos visuals. Slingo Day of the Dab features festival-inspired imagery as well as calavera designs, showing how impactful the imagery is and how much of a place Mexican culture has outside of wrestling.
For Chad Gable, creating the character of El Grande Americano was about building on a foundation of mystery. He wanted to create something that people invested in, talked about, and tuned in for. It certainly worked, too, as his identity became a huge talking point in the world of wrestling.
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