Corey Graves Praises El Grande Americano for Turning a “Death Sentence” Gimmick Around

Corey Graves recently spoke about one of the more unexpected turnarounds in WWE, pointing to the rise of the El Grande Americano persona.

During an appearance on Steel City Sunday, Graves explained that the character initially looked risky. Many viewers assumed the gimmick would stall Kaiser’s momentum rather than elevate it. Instead, the opposite happened.

The El Grande Americano character was first hinted at in storylines involving Chad Gable last year. At the time, it felt like a short-term experiment. Over time, it became a defining chapter of Kaiser’s run, with Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne also donning the mask.

Crowd reactions grew quickly. According to Graves, the persona found traction not only in the United States but also internationally. He highlighted especially loud reactions from fans in Mexico, where the character gained steady attention.

“He’s the best… Talk about somebody who took a gimmick that was effectively a death sentence. and turned it into… I mean, he is a megastar in Mexico, it’s crazy he’s a bigger star in Mexico than he is in the United States, which is wild, and I heard rumors he’s European, which makes it all funnier.”

The run with El Grande Americano shows how presentation, timing, and audience response can reshape a career. What started as uncertainty turned into sustained momentum.

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