Throughout the history of professional wrestling, it has not been uncommon for performers to portray nationalities or identities far from their own.
In the 1950s, Hans Schmidt became one of the most hated men in the business. Billed as a German with strong Nazi overtones, Schmidt drew such intense heat that some fans called for his deportation. In reality, he was French Canadian Guy Larose.
Years later, fellow French Canadian Oreal Donald Perras followed suit. Reinventing himself as “The Russian Bear”
Ivan Koloff, he found success, defeating Bruno Sammartino in 1971 for the WWE Championship. In the 1980s, Koloff was joined by his kayfabe nephew Nikita — played by Minnesota native Nelson Scott Simpson, with no relation to Perras.
One of the most iconic — and controversial — examples came in the 1970s, when Italian-American Joe Scarpa portrayed the Native American hero Chief Jay Strongbow.
These were different times — when kayfabe reigned, and audiences were far less concerned with performers portraying races and ethnicities not their own. While times have changed, the practice hasn’t entirely disappeared. A modern example is El Grande Americano.
Originally portrayed by Chad Gable, the character was introduced as a parody — an American-inspired luchador from “The Gulf of America,” determined to defeat the luchadores Gable struggled against in the ring. However, the reception in the U.S. was polarized. Some fans enjoyed the satire, while others deemed it culturally insensitive to Mexicans.
But in Mexico, the character has been well received. Through four matches south of the border, El Grande Americano has won over crowds. Now played by Ludwig Kaiser, this new version is widely viewed as an upgrade over Gable’s original run.
The most surprising part? Kaiser’s Spanish. Despite his German accent, his pronunciation and command of the language are nearly flawless. In a recent Q&A for WWE Español, he showcased not just his fluency but his charisma, singing a traditional Mexican folk song.
Before stepping in for the injured Gable, Kaiser had seen his TV time dwindle. Much of 2025 was spent working dark matches or on Main Event. Given the opportunity, he turned what looked like a dead-end gimmick into a breakout moment.
In doing so, Kaiser may have permanently taken over the role — and that might not be a bad thing. When Gable returns, the two could have an entertaining feud, especially if the WWE Speed Championship — currently held by Americano — remains in play.
For now, Kaiser continues to win over fans in a most unexpected way. He has fully immersed himself in the character. As a result, he’s not only connected with audiences the gimmick was expected to offend, he’s helped create some of WWE’s most entertaining cross-cultural moments in recent memory.
