WWE Superstar Chad Gable has responded to fans praising his Mask vs. Mask match against El Grande Americano as a potential Match of the Year for 2026.
During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Gable discussed the positive reception to the match and explained why the emotional reactions from fellow wrestlers meant even more to him than the possibility of receiving an award.
While appreciative of the recognition, Gable emphasized that he prefers to focus on his continued development as a performer rather than individual accomplishments.
“I mean, what we do is subjective, right? It’s the highest compliment to me that people think of it in those terms. I always try to not focus so much on the accomplishment or what I’ve done, but the process and the journey, who I’m becoming in this process, and what’s next. So it’s great. It’s really nice to have these compliments, especially I think some of the highest compliments I was paid were from my peers. That told me not how great the match was, but the way it made them feel, that reminded them what they loved about wrestling growing up. It made them feel the way they did when they were kids. That to me is the highest compliment because that’s what I’m seeking in wrestling now, is to feel the way I felt when I watched Macho Man and Warrior at WrestleMania VII, with all the drama with Miss Elizabeth and all these things. That’s the kind of stuff that fueled me to want to do this. So if I can give that to other people, then I feel like I’m really doing my job.”
Gable explained that some of the most meaningful feedback came from his peers, who told him the match reminded them of the excitement and emotion they experienced watching professional wrestling as children.
He specifically referenced the legendary WrestleMania VII encounter between Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior, along with the emotional storyline involving Miss Elizabeth, as an example of the storytelling that inspired him to pursue wrestling.
For Gable, recreating that same emotional connection with today’s audience is more important than receiving recognition for an individual performance.
Although fans have placed his match with El Grande Americano among the year’s best, Gable remains focused on the creative process and delivering memorable moments that resonate with viewers long after the matches end.
