German wrestler Ludwig Kaiser, known for his role on WWE Raw, was signed by WWE without undergoing the usual tryout process, a rare exception in the professional wrestling world. Kaiser’s unique journey into WWE’s main roster highlights how his established reputation and connections influenced the decision to bring him onboard directly.
Ludwig Kaiser’s Path to WWE and His Role on Raw
Ludwig Kaiser, a veteran wrestler with 18 years of experience, first appeared on WWE’s main roster in April 2022 during the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. Since July, Kaiser has performed as El Grande Americano, stepping in for an injured Chad Gable in this masked persona. The switch has been successful, culminating in a notable victory on the September 15th episode of WWE Raw where Kaiser defeated Dragon Lee, supported by two masked allies also adopting the El Grande Americano gimmick.
Kaiser’s WWE career began in 2017, initially competing on the NXT UK and NXT brands for five years before moving to the main roster. His long tenure in WWE’s developmental system contrasts with the typical trajectory, as most WWE wrestlers undergo multiple tryouts before being signed to the company. Kaiser’s case was quite different, a fact he detailed during the Kennt Jeder podcast with Hamad Firdousi.
How WWE Initially Approached Kaiser and His Decision to Decline Early Offers
During his time wrestling for Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) in Germany, Kaiser first established contact with WWE. Despite WWE’s interest, Kaiser declined his initial tryout offer, feeling unprepared at the time. His father, Axel Dieter, a respected figure in German wrestling, had a connection with Fit Finlay, which helped facilitate early discussions.
“During my time at wXw, the contact to WWE was built. I dismissed my very first tryout (offer), which I got only three years in. Fit Finlay contacted me, because my father was the man in Germany and they knew each other. But I knew I was not ready. I thanked them for the chance and asked for some time.” — Ludwig Kaiser, WWE Superstar
A few years later, when WWE reached out again, Kaiser had suffered a knee injury which complicated his plans. At that point, joining WWE was not his main ambition, and he was conflicted about the timing of the opportunity because of his injury and career status.
“Five or six years later, contact was made again. I knocked out my knee. Going to WWE was never my goal. I would have been happy (with my career) if it would have stopped earlier. But when it’s so close and when the injury happened, I was so upset that it was so close to happening.” — Ludwig Kaiser, WWE Superstar
Despite the setback, WWE encouraged him to prepare for another opportunity. Kaiser then competed for promotions in England, including PROGRESS Wrestling, which reignited WWE’s interest and led to offers of tryouts, with WWE planning to hold a tour across Germany to scout more talent.
“WWE told me, ‘Get ready and we’ll try another time.’ After that, I went to England, did some PROGRESS. WWE found out, contacted me again, and told me about another tryout. They originally planned a tour with tryouts through all of Germany to look at talent.” — Ludwig Kaiser, WWE Superstar
William Regal’s Intervention Led to Kaiser’s Direct Signing
Despite WWE’s plan to evaluate talent through tryouts, Ludwig Kaiser’s established reputation and family ties played a critical role in bypassing this requirement. William Regal, WWE’s talent scout and coach, had confidence in Kaiser’s readiness and pushed for him to be signed immediately, making an exception to the standard process.
“But Mr William Regal said, ‘We’ll take this guy and we don’t need any tour.’ They told me I do not have to do a tryout, I can come immediately.” — Ludwig Kaiser, WWE Superstar
Kaiser admitted that this was a rare privilege, acknowledging that most wrestlers undergo multiple tryouts before joining WWE’s roster. Upon signing, Kaiser felt like he was starting over despite his years of experience.
“I’ve been told this is a huge, huge exception. Everyone does a tryout, usually several. I had the big privilege to come in like that. But my career basically started all over again once I got there.” — Ludwig Kaiser, WWE Superstar
Recent Developments and WWE Career Progression
Kaiser’s transition to WWE’s main roster as El Grande Americano has been marked by strong performances, especially following Chad Gable’s injury. This role allowed him to showcase his versatility and resilience within WWE’s competitive environment. Kaiser’s story emphasizes the unpredictable nature of wrestling careers, where injuries and timing can impact opportunities significantly.
Kaiser’s signing highlights how WWE strategically makes exceptions for established international talent, relying on trusted scouts like William Regal to identify wrestlers ready for the big stage. This approach not only benefits wrestlers like Kaiser but also enriches WWE’s roster by adding seasoned performers who bring a wealth of experience.
As Kaiser continues to build momentum on WWE Raw, his journey could inspire other international wrestlers aiming for WWE contracts without the conventional tryout path. WWE’s willingness to consider such exceptions suggests a focus on proven ability alongside traditional scouting methods.
Going forward, fans can expect to see Kaiser develop his character further and potentially take on more high-profile matches, solidifying his place in WWE’s roster and possibly returning to team-ups or rivalries with key figures like Gunther, another prominent star from the European wrestling scene.
