El Grande Americano responded on Instagram Stories on Sunday with a warning to the “Original” El Grande Americano.
A day after footage of the “original” branding his rival a fraud was aired on Lucha Libre AAA, the man who has since become a folk hero in Mexico accused the original Americano of relying on AI.
“What a lack of respect for me and my people,” Americano said directly to the camera in Spanish. “That clown doesn’t speak Spanish. He doesn’t have the guts to say one really awful word, so he uses some awful artificial intelligence.”
Fans were quick to accuse WWE of using AI-generated video, which was why WWE first introduced the character last year.
In Saturday’s video, the short, muscular “Original” accused his taller doppelganger of impersonation, labeled him a fraud and vowed to win the AAA Mega Championship. He appeared in front of cheering fans waving Mexican flags, then emerged in the countryside surrounded by supporters.
The image of the flag particularly infuriated Spanish-speaking Americano, who said, “He has the audacity to fly our flag. Shorty, our flag is not an accessory to a fake video, you idiot. That flag should be respected and it should be protected.”
This Americano, played by German star Ludwig Kaiser, is rapidly gaining popularity in Mexico. Meanwhile, American fans have initially supported the “original,” played by Chad Gable before his injury, despite early criticism, including charges from “American Bay.”
Americano concluded with this warning: “When someone crosses a line with me, and when they cross a line with us, they’re going to pay the price — for the color of my skin, for my people, for Mexico. We’ll meet soon, and this time, in person, without filters, without fucking artificial intelligence, with a temper.”
Either way, the battle lines are drawn: the “original” El Grande Americano versus the Mexican-accepted version, and the battle of personas turns into a battle for pride, culture, and true authenticity.
