Somehow, El Grande Americano has change into some of the in style wrestlers in the world. What began out as a horrible gimmick performed by Chad Gable on WWE TV turned one thing completely different when Ludwig Kaiser (real name Marcel Barthel) went below the masks. With WWE now proudly owning Mexico’s Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, Kaiser as El Grande Americano is one among their greatest stars. He’s so good, in truth, that though Kaiser had some success and loads of potential, there isn’t a approach Barthel can ever be Ludwig Kaiser once more. He isn’t any extra. El Grande Americano is the place his future lies.
Ludwig Kaiser Was Part of Gunther’s Imperium Faction
- Kaiser wrestled in NXT UK below his actual identify of Marcel Barthel.
- Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci had been Gunther’s henchmen in Imperium.
- The finish of Imperium gave Kaiser an opportunity to change into a singles star.
German wrestler Marcel Barthel joined WWE in 2017 below the NXT banner. He really glided by his actual identify for a number of years, and was in Walter’s Imperium faction with Fabian Aichner in NXT UK. Bit by bit, all three superstars would endure a reputation change. Aichner turned Giovanni Vinci, Walter turned Gunther, and Barthel turned into Ludwig Kaiser.
Guther’s two henchmen had been two-time NXT Tag Team Champions, however on the primary roster, they had been the background supporters to Gunther, with Imperium being all about his dominance, particularly his record-setting Intercontinental Championship reign. Vinci, sadly, had a ceiling, and was by no means going to go very far in WWE. When he was launched, it wasn’t a lot of a shock. Kaiser, nonetheless, was a distinct story. Having spent too lengthy in the shadows, the end of Imperium meant he might lastly get away as a singles star. He has accomplished simply that, however in a approach nobody might have ever anticipated.
Ludwig Kaiser Became El Grande Americano When Chad Gable Got Injured
- Chad Gable’s model of El Grande Americano on Raw was a comedy gimmick.
- Kaiser’s model of the character leads a faction referred to as Los Americanos with the previous Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
- El Grande Americano began working in AAA.
Chad Gable’s complete WWE profession has seen him proper on the cusp of greatness many instances. After attaining success as a part of American Alpha with Jason Jordan, Gable’s time as a singles star crashed with the completely terrible Shorty G gimmick. However, moderately than wilting, Gable gave the horrible character his all and was rewarded for it. He turned the chief of the enjoyable Alpha Academy, however a constructing feud with Otis went nowhere for some motive. He nearly turned the Intercontinental Champion as nicely, solely to fall brief there too.
Gable then started a storyline which noticed him making an attempt to study from lucha libre. This led to the debut of El Grande Americano. It was a comedy character, like the worst of Vince McMahon creative, and everybody knew Gable was below the masks. Still, Gable tried his greatest and the character started to develop on followers. Then Gable received damage.
This ought to have been the tip of El Grande Americano, however WWE saved the gimmick going by placing Ludwig Kaiser below the masks, the joke being that he was alleged to act like he was the identical character though he regarded a lot completely different. The gimmick began to work a bit bit on Raw, even resulting in a faction, with Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate going below masks as nicely to change into Los Americanos. There was solely up to now this gimmick might go although if not for AAA.
El Grande Americano & Other Stolen Identity Storylines
El Grande Americano is feuding with himself, reminding followers of many different stolen id storylines throughout WWE, WCW and AEW.
El Grande Americano Has Become AAA’s Biggest Babyface
- WWE introduced that that they had purchased AAA throughout WrestleMania 41.
- El Grande Americano gained the Rey De Reyes event.
- Kaiser is taking part in the character so nicely that he cannot return to his former identify.
AAA had been a prestigious Mexican lucha libre wrestling promotion for many years. In 2025, during WrestleMania 41, it was announced that WWE had bought the company. A whole lot of hardcore followers weren’t glad, justifiably frightened TKO would break it. For probably the most half, though it has some WWE touches now, AAA nonetheless has the enjoyable matches they had been recognized for and respects the artwork. It was really easy for El Grande Americano to be a heel as a German wrestler offered as a luchador in Mexico. But the person behind the masks, Ludwig Kaiser, is such an excellent in-ring expertise that followers took to him. He is now arguably probably the most liked wrestler in the corporate.
This month, Americano beat Chad Gable’s unique model of the character to win the Rey De Reyes tournament. Fans roared, and whether or not it was scripted or not, the brand new El Grande Americano received emotional in the ring. He’s not portrayed as a joke. He’s a full-on luchador who respects the Mexican viewers. There was even a photograph just lately of him holding a child at an occasion. Ludwig Kaiser is giving his all to the character. For the likes of Chad Gable, Pete Dunne, and Tyler Bate, hopefully their masks can come off, they usually can return to their former names someday. As the weeks go by, the identical state of affairs is changing into unimaginable for El Grande Americano. Ludwig Kaiser is completed. This is who Marcel Barthel is now. And that is a great factor.
