During this past Monday’s episode of WWE RAW, the storyline surrounding the injured Chad Gable took an unexpected turn, sparking immediate speculation of an imposter taking over his masked persona.
The June 30 broadcast featured a backstage segment where RAW General Manager Adam Pearce acknowledged Gable’s legitimate shoulder injury. Appearing in a sling alongside his America Made stablemates, Gable listened as Pearce sarcastically commented that his masked alter ego, El Grande Americano, would also be sidelined.
However, a later segment showed El Grande Americano appearing with American Made once again. This time, the masked figure was noticeably taller than Gable, a detail that quickly led to fan theories online suggesting a new man is under the hood.
The development has fueled debate that Ludwig Kaiser, who has a history with Gable, could be the replacement, though nothing has been officially confirmed by WWE. This on-screen mystery serves as a creative pivot following the confirmation that Gable is set for a lengthy absence.
Gable is scheduled for shoulder surgery in early July 2025, an injury expected to keep him out of action for the remainder of the year and possibly into 2026. He was officially written off television during the June 23 episode of WWE RAW, where an attack by Penta was used to explain the legitimate injury ahead of his procedure.
With Gable recovering, WWE appears to be moving forward with the popular El Grande Americano character, transforming the situation into a whodunit storyline and leaving the future of the persona—and the WWE Speed Championship he holds—in question.