Wrestling veteran Dutch Mantell has suggested that a significant WWE faction officially split following last week’s Monday Night RAW, with Chad Gable’s injury playing a key role in the development. During the show, Gable disclosed that he was hurt after an attack by Penta, a real injury that required surgery rather than part of any scripted storyline. This unexpected event has led to speculation about the future of associated wrestlers and factions.
Following Gable’s injury, it was uncertain whether his masked character, El Grande Americano, would appear on WWE programming. Surprisingly, a backstage segment featured El Grande Americano interacting with The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile during an interview by Jackie Redmond. Fans quickly observed that the version of El Grande Americano shown bore strong resemblance to Ludwig Kaiser, not Chad Gable.
Signs Pointing to a Split Within Imperium
Discussing the recent events on his podcast Story Time with Dutch Mantell, the veteran observed that it was clear the El Grande Americano present on RAW was not Chad Gable. Mantell identified the wrestler portraying El Grande Americano as Ludwig Kaiser and noted that Kaiser no longer appeared aligned with Gunther, indicating a potential dissolution within the faction Imperium.
“It’s not Chad Gable… And I’m thinking, and I’m going to be truthful here. I know who it is now. But I couldn’t have figured that out in a world of Sundays. I know who it is now. Are you going to tell the people who it is? [Host- Yeah, we think it’s Ludwig Kaiser]… So when I saw him turn and walk off, and they handled that right… Definitely you can tell, or I can tell, or anybody can tell that it wasn’t Chad Gable. Who is it? Okay, Ludwig Kaiser. So, he’s no longer doing the deal with Mr. Gunther,” he said. [0:15 – 1:36]
—Dutch Mantell, Wrestling Veteran
Gunther Comments on His Relationship with Ludwig Kaiser Off-Screen
Although Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser have appeared separated on WWE television, their real-life relationship remains positive. On a recent episode of The Masked Man Show, Gunther—the WWE World Heavyweight Champion—spoke about their friendship, highlighting that they recently traveled together to Italy for a mutual friend’s wedding.
“Oh, very good [GUNTHER replied when asked how things are with him & Ludwig Kaiser]. We just been [sic] to Italy last week. We were invited at [sic] a friend’s wedding. It’s very nice. It’s all good,” Gunther said.
—Gunther, WWE World Heavyweight Champion
Implications of the New El Grande Americano Role for WWE Storylines
The appearance of Ludwig Kaiser as the new El Grande Americano suggests a reshuffling of roles within WWE. While the faction Imperium appears to have fractured, the company’s creative team, led by Triple H, has yet to reveal its strategic plans for Kaiser’s character under this persona. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how this change will impact future storylines and faction alignments.
Overall, the Chad Gable WWE faction split underscores how real-life events like injuries can directly influence the scripted world of professional wrestling, leading to unexpected twists and new character developments that keep audiences engaged.
