Cody Rhodes Drops Bombshell: Says Triple H Handed WWE Star a “Career-Killing Gimmick” — But It Shockingly Became a Hit
Cody Rhodes knows firsthand how a gimmick can make or break a career — after all, he once escaped WWE to shed the infamous Stardust persona and rebuild himself into the American Nightmare. Now sitting at the top of the company as WWE Champion, Rhodes isn’t afraid to speak his mind about character risks in wrestling.
During his appearance on All The Smoke: Unplugged, Rhodes revealed that Triple H recently gave a WWE star a gimmick that, in the wrong hands, could have been a “death sentence.” Instead, it has become one of the most talked-about acts in the company.
According to Rhodes, the key in wrestling is taking something bizarre or silly and turning it into magic — a challenge only a few can pull off. And right now, the star doing exactly that is El Grande Americano.
Rhodes explained that the character — originally played by Chad Gable — could have sunk a lesser performer, but instead has turned into something special:
“He’s taken something that could have been a death sentence for another wrestler and is just making it special. They don’t mean it to be a death sentence, but they mean it to be a challenge.”
El Grande Americano debuted under Gable and even scored a major WrestleMania 41 victory against Rey Fenix. When Gable went down with an injury, Ludwig Kaiser took over the mask — and the character didn’t just survive, it exploded. Kaiser has not only embraced the role but expanded it, bringing in Rayo and Bravo Americano — masked allies who fans know are actually two other top WWE names.
Instead of being forgotten or mocked, the gimmick has turned into a standout act in WWE and AAA, proving that with the right talent, even the boldest creative risks can become breakout moments.
Cody Rhodes learned that lesson the hard way — but now he’s watching someone else turn a potential flop into gold, and he’s giving credit where it’s due.
