WWE Sparks Outrage Among Mexican Fans After El Grande Americano's Controversial RAW Debut
WWE’s debut of Chad Gable as El Grande Americano on RAW has sparked fury among Mexican lucha libre traditionalists following Dragon Lee’s mask removal.
Traditional luchadores and Mexican fans have blasted the gimmick as a “mockery” that mocks their sacred wrestling culture, according to reports from Sportskeeda WrestleBinge.
The situation was made worse by commentators’ lackluster reaction when Dragon Lee had his mask removed during the match, failing to convey the cultural significance of this act.
They may have shown praise behind the scenes, but the Lucha community in Mexico is pissed. I’ve talked to people. If you really think that making what they call mockery of real Luchadores, you know, that’s like a religion in Mexico.
When Dragon Lee was unmasked, they just left him lying there. The announcers weren’t as outraged as people would have been in the WCW days.
The match ended with Gable’s character ripping off Lee’s mask before locking in an Ankle Lock for the victory, crossing a major cultural line in lucha libre tradition.
Adding salt to the wound, El Grande Americano was billed from “The Gulf of America,” another detail that didn’t sit well with those who respect lucha libre’s deep-rooted traditions.
