Chad Gable made his long-awaited return to WWE programming during Saturday’s Royal Rumble match, reviving his “El Grande Americano” persona to confront the man who stole the gimmick in his absence.
Gable entered the match at number 13, billed as the “Original El Grande Americano.” He immediately targeted entrant number 12, Ludwig Kaiser, who was also wrestling under the “El Grande Americano” mask.
The two engaged in a brief “Battle of the Americanos” before Gable eliminated Kaiser from the match.
Gable’s triumph was short-lived, however, as he was quickly eliminated by Trick Williams.
This marked Gable’s first WWE appearance since June 2025, when he was sidelined with an arm injury. Prior to his hiatus, Gable had debuted the comedic luchador character, an American patriot posing as a Mexican wrestling legend, in March 2025.
During Gable’s seven-month absence, Ludwig Kaiser assumed the role. Kaiser’s interpretation of the character became unexpectedly popular, leading to high-profile appearances in Lucha Libre AAA.
Gable had been rumored to return for several weeks, with reports suggesting he had been training at the Performance Center since late December.
