WrestleMania 42 is fast approaching, and the Intercontinental Championship will be defended in a Ladder Match. So far, the following competitors have been announced:
- Penta (defending)
- Je’Von Evans
- Dragon Lee
- JD McDonagh
- Rusev
More names are expected to join the field. When the match was first announced on the March 30 episode of Raw at Madison Square Garden, Corey Graves made it clear on commentary that additional entrants would be revealed in the weeks ahead. Given that two of the current participants have ties to AAA, there’s a strong chance this bout doubles as a showcase for WWE’s growing lucha presence.
And now, another name is pushing for inclusion: El Grande Americano.
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How El Grande Americano Turned Babyface
If you haven’t been tracking El Grande Americano’s run in AAA, here’s the quick version. After the original El Grande Americano—Chad Gable—went down with an injury last year, Ludwig Kaiser stepped in to take over the role across both Raw and AAA programming.
Initially positioned as a heel, Kaiser’s version of the character took on a life of its own once it hit Mexico. Fans there embraced the persona, and what started as a villainous act quickly evolved into one of the most popular attractions on AAA’s weekly shows.
That momentum only grew with the addition of Rayo and Bravo—collectively known as Los Americanos. The trio’s legitimate athleticism, combined with the over-the-top presentation, has earned them both respect and strong crowd support.
With WrestleMania around the corner, it looks like WWE could be adding one of its hottest character acts to the biggest show of the year.
The company posted a video on social media on Sunday, April 5 teasing his addition.
While rising star Je’Von Evans feels like a strong favorite to walk out with the championship, don’t overlook El Grande Americano as a potential spoiler.
Meanwhile, the original El Grande Americano remains notably absent from the conversation. Since returning at the Royal Rumble, Chad Gable has struggled to recapture the same momentum he once had with the gimmick.
How to Watch WrestleMania 42
WrestleMania 42 will be held on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2026 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card starts at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT / 3:00 p.m. PT both nights.
The event will stream on the ESPN app in the United States and on Netflix internationally. WWE has also announced that the first hour of WrestleMania Saturday will air on ESPN2, while the first hour of WrestleMania Sunday will stream on ESPN.
